The $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (G1) is the filly equivalent of the Kentucky Derby and the second largest crowd ever, 108,165, came out to watch. A full starting gate of fourteen 3-year-old fillies was entered in the 132nd edition of the classic, a 1 1/8 mile trip around the main track at Churchill Downs. Santa Anita Oaks and Las Virgenes Stakes winner Balance was sent off as the 8-5 favorite over 6-1 second choice Bushfire, winner of the Ashland and the Florida Oaks.
First time by with Miss Norman and Diplomat Lady out front
23-1 longshot Miss Norman broke out of the inside post position and went to the lead right away under jockey Pablo Morales, and set a brisk pace of 22.46 and 46.45 while loose on the lead by as many as 2 1/2 lengths. At the end of the backstretch she quickly dropped out of contention eventually finishing 12th. 34-1 shot Red Cherries Spin inherited the lead at the top of the stretch as Bushfire made her move after stalking the pace in fourth early. The fast pace set the race up for the closers, as 10-1 shot Ermine and 47-1 longest shot Lemons Forever closed strongly through the stretch. Bushfire bore in and bumped into Red Cherries Spin at the 1/16 pole, impeding her rally. Lemons Forever drew away in the final 50 yards to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Ermine, completing the 1 1/8 mile distance in 1:50.07. It was 1 1/4 lengths back to Bushfire in third. After an inquiry, the stewards disqualified Bushfire to sixth, placing her behind Red Cherries Spin. Favorite Balance stalked the fast pace in fifth early but had nothing for the stretch, finishing a disappointing eleventh. The winning odds of 47.10-1 and the win payoff of $96.20 were the largest in the 132-year history of the Oaks. The previous record was 1903 winner Lemco at 40-1.
There were five other stakes races on the card with the Oaks. Full results for all of them with more photos are here.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
14 Lemons Forever Guidry 96.20 37.00 18.00
12 Ermine Albarado 11.20 7.80
8 Wait a While Gomez 6.40
Winning Time: 1:50.07
$2 Exacta 14-12 985.60
$2 Trifecta 14-12-8 12,186.60
$2 Superfecta 14-12-8-7 89,103.00
Lemons Forever circles after the race while the Inquiry sign flashes behind her. Winning jockey Mark Guidry said, "Anybody knows you got your ups and your downs, but right now we're on an up and I'm very grateful. She didn't break real sharp. I was just biding my time, picking them up. We were wide but I knew turning for home I was on the winner. She had so much momentum. She really accelerated the last eighth of a mile.This was the first time I rode her in a race but I worked her and I knew she liked the track."
They tried to put the lilies on her, but Lemons Forever wanted no part of them. Winning trainer and co-owner Dallas Stewart said, "This is big-time! I've won a lot of good races and I'm lucky to have great owners, but this is the ultimate."
Lemons Forever in the post parade. Stewart continued, "You know, to pick her out out the sale and buy a piece of her, and have the owners stick with you, this is everything you could ask for. This is what horse racing is all about."
Second place finisher Ermine in the post parade. Jockey Robby Albarado said, "She ran great, but give credit to the winner. She is a nice filly. This was the best field of fillies for this race since maybe back to Silverbulletday in 1999." Her trainer Ronny Werner said, "It was a tough race. I have no complaints. She's a lady and a lady on the track. She ran her guts out, so I have no reason to complain."
Third place finisher (after the DQ) Wait a While in the post parade. Her trainer Todd Pletcher said, "We thought she ran in a big race. On the turn she tried to make a move up the rail, but got in a little trouble. She was bothered a bit, but it's hard to tell if it cost her a placing."
Disqualified third place finisher (placed 6th) Bushfire in the post parade. Her jockey Cornelio Velasquez said, "She ran very well, it just didn't work out well."
11th place finisher and beaten favorite Balance in the post parade. Her trainer David Hofmans said, "I guess he had a real rough trip going down the backside. He couldn't get position and he just kept getting shut off. he said she felt great and just didn't have enough to catch anybody."
Triple Crown quick links:
Belmont Stakes Entries - A field of 12 was entered on Wednesday for the 142nd Belmont on Saturday with 3-1 morning line favorite Ice Box drawing post 6. Get all the horses, post positions, odds, and past performances here.
Analyzing the Belmont Stakes Contenders - My annual analysis using popular angles and statistical trends to see who best matches the profile of a Belmont winner.
Lookin At Lucky wins the Preakness - The new jockey must have changed his luck as he had no problems this time and wore down First Dude to win the Preakness with Jackson Bend third. Favorite Super Saver faded to finish 8th. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Super Saver wins the 2010 Kentucky Derby - He drew off to win by 2 1/2 lengths, giving jockey Calvin Borel his third Derby win in 4 years. Ice Box and Paddy O'Prado closed from far back to finish 2nd and 3rd while favorite Lookin At Lucky was 6th.
2010 Triple Crown Late Nominations - Only six more thoroughbreds were made eligible for the three Triple Crown races for a fee of $6000 by the late nomination deadline. Any not nominated now will have to pay a huge supplement fee to enter. Check out the list here.
Belmont 101 - A basic introduction the the third and final jewel of the Triple Crown. How it began, basics of picking a winner, and how to attend in person.
