Kentucky Oaks 2020 Report for 2-21-20 Featuring Finite

Juvenile filly champion British Idiom made her much anticipated 3-year-old bow in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Feb. 15, but Finite stole the show and is the new Kentucky Oaks 2020 favorite and points leader.

Check out Today's Racing Digest for handicapping products, analysis, and more! Finite capture above courtesy of Today's Racing Digest. 

The next Oaks points race is the Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park Feb. 29. Possible starters include Forward Gal (G3) winner Tonalist’s Shape, last year’s Demoiselle (G2) winner Lake Avenue, and Todd Pletcher’s romping debut winner Spice Is Nice.

There are some big changes to my top five Oaks fillies. Bast has been retired after soft tissue problem was detected in her right front ankle. In a sad turn of events, Taraz fractured her left front pastern in a workout at Oaklawn Park earlier this week, and had to be put down. 

Kentucky Oaks 2020 Points Race Recaps
Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) Recap (2-15-20) - Winner: Finite ($7.40)

This was the most important Oaks prep so far. 50 points to the winner and the Fair Grounds road to the Oaks is frequently the right path. Two-year-old filly champ British Idiom started her sophomore campaign in this spot, but Finite stole her thunder. His Glory went straight to the front from the rail as expected, and Ursula was in chase mode after a less than ideal start. Finite sat a comfortable stalking trip from the outside post, and edged closer on the backstretch and around the far turn. She took the lead in the lane and widened her advantage to 4+ lengths when all was said and done. British Idiom did not have the smoothest trip in her first start in 3+ months. She bumped and steadied into the first turn, and was racing wide heading into the backstretch. She settled in sixth place and moved up outside in the stretch. She found her best stride in the lane and was pulling away from the rest in a solid runner-up finish. Swiss Skydiver held 3rd by a neck over Tempers Rising. Impeccable Style and His Glory were next, and Ursula was the distant trailer. The top two finishers will most likely meet again in the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 21. 

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Kentucky Oaks Points Leaderboard (thru UAE Oaks 2-20-20)

70 Points: Finite

50 Points: British Idiom, Down On Da Bayou (UAE Oaks winner)

20 Points: Dubai Love (UAE Oaks runner-up)

12 Points: Donna Veloce

10 Points: Harvey’s Lil Goil, Lake Avenue, Lazy Daisy, Lucrezia, Serein, Swiss Skydiver, Tonalist’s Shape, Venetian Harbour, Wicked Whisper

7 Points: Tempers Rising

6 Points: Motu, Perfect Alibi

5 Points: Comical, Gingham

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Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2020 Contenders (2-21-20)

#1 - DONNA VELOCE - BC Juvenile Fillies & Starlet runner-up worked 5f at LRC Feb. 20.  

#2 - FINITE - Ran winning streak to five in Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2).    

#3 - BRITISH IDIOM - Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) runner-up finish was first loss.

#4 - VENETIAN HARBOR - Romped in last pair including Las Virgenes (G2).

#5 - HARVEY’S LIL GOIL - Daughter of American Pharoah was sharp in Busanda Feb. 2.

Article by Jarrod Horak

Please visit The Runaway Horse Sales page to purchase my daily Santa Anita picks. ​

Kentucky Oaks Report for 2-14-20 Featuring Venetian Harbor

Venetian Harbor jumped onto the Kentucky Oaks 2020 trail with an emphatic win in the Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, Feb. 8.

Check out Today's Racing Digest for handicapping products, analysis, and more! Venetian Harbor capture above courtesy of Today's Racing Digest. 

The Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Grounds on Feb. 15 is the next Oaks points race, and it is a big one. Juvenile filly champ British Idiom returns to action, and it is the first 50 points race of the season, so it is basically and win and you’re in contest. British Idiom won all three of her starts in 2019, including the Alcibiades (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). She is the deserving favorite at Fair Grounds on Saturday. 

Kentucky Oaks 2020 Points Race Recaps

Suncoast Stakes Recap (2-8-20) - Winner: Lucrezia ($13.80)
This race did not feel strong. Lucrezia attended the pace and scored comfortably, but the final number was nothing special. She won because she liked the Tampa Bay oval, was able to get forward early, and had the strong Centeno/Delacour team in her corner. She dominated this race by five lengths. My value underneath exotics contender Turtle Trax got past Motu late for the place. The latter was a bit disappointing in her first start of the year. Comical and Two Sixty were next, and Embossed, We the Clouds, Blame Debbie, and Miss Important. 

Las Virgenes Stakes (G2) Recap (2-8-20) - Winner: Venetian Harbor ($2.60)

How good is Venetian Harbor? I am really not sure, and we did not learn much in this spot. The impressive sprint maiden winner only faced four foes in this flat mile route test, and she cruised to a very easy early lead. It was game over after an opening quarter in 23.52. She was already six lengths in front at that point. Flavien Prat slowed things down in the middle, and Baffert trainees Stellar Sound and Gingham were within a length. Venetian Harbor opened up again in the stretch and was 9+ in front of Gingham at the end. She was geared down late. Gingham was 2+ in front of Stellar Sound. Big Blue Nation was far back in 4th and Cholula Lips was a distant last. 

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Kentucky Oaks Points Leaderboard (thru Las Virgenes 2-8-20)

34 Points: Bast

30 Points: British Idiom

20 Points: Finite

12 Points: Donna Veloce

10 Points: Harvey’s Lil Goil, Lake Avenue, Lazy Daisy, Lucrezia, Taraz, Tonalist’s Shape, Venetian Harbour, Wicked Whisper

6 Points: Motu, Perfect Alibi

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Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2020 Contenders (2-14-20)

#1 - DONNA VELOCE - BC Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Starlet (G1) runner-up breezed half-mile at LRC Feb. 14.   

#2 - BRITISH IDIOM - Juvenile filly champ returns in Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at FG Feb. 15.

#3 - BAST - Next start to be determined for current Oaks points leader. Last published work Jan. 18.   

#4 - TARAZ - Goes next in Honeybee (G3) at OP March 7. Breezed half-mile at OP Feb. 11. 
     
#5 - VENETIAN HARBOR - Debuts on list after very easy score in Las Virgenes (G2).

Article by Jarrod Horak

Please visit The Runaway Horse Sales page to purchase my daily Santa Anita picks. 

Las Virgenes & San Vicente Stakes 2020 Video Featuring Storm the Court & Nadal

Check out my Las Virgenes & San Vicente Stakes video below! 

Video by Jarrod Horak

Please visit The Runaway Horse Sales page to purchase my daily Santa Anita picks.