Kentucky Oaks 2015

On Kentucky Oaks Day, here are the fillies (and their pedigrees) in post position order, with photos taken this week. The ones with no pictures trained very early in the mornings or in the case of Money'soncharlotte, arrived late to Churchill Downs, and I didn't get to see them.

The Larry Jones-trained pair of I'm a Chatterbox and Lovely Maria will be formidable against the morning line favorite Stellar Wind. I wouldn't count any of those three out, but I like Birdatthewire and look for longshots Forever Unbridled -- whose dam Lemons Forever won the 2006 Kentucky Oaks and whose full sister Unbridled Forever was third last year, but who may be compromised by an unfavorable post position -- and Puca to make an impression.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1. Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song - Lemons Forever, Lemon Drop Kid)
    Owner/Breeder-Charles Fipke; Trainer-Dallas Stewart

2. Shook Up (Tapit - Sugar Shake, Awesome Again)
    O-Regis Racing; B-SF Bloodstock; T-Steve Asmussen

3. Include Betty (Include - Betty's Solutions, Eltish)
    O-Brereton Jones and Tim Thornton; B-Lavin Bloodstock and Brereton Jones; T-Tom Proctor

4. Eskenformoney (Eskendereya - But for Money, Not for Love)
    O-StarLadies Racing; B-Ramspring Farm; T-Todd Pletcher

5. Condo Commando (Tiz Wonderful - Yearly Report, General Meeting)
    O-Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and The Elkstone Group; B-Spendthrift Farm; T-Rudy Rodriguez (on Condo Commando in the photo)

6. Angela Renee (Bernardini - Pilfer, Deputy Minister)
    O/B-Siena Farm; T-Todd Pletcher

7. Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection - Thundercup, Thunder Gulch)
    O-Brereton Jones; B-Olin Gentry and Thomas Gaines; T-Larry Jones (on Lovely Maria in the photo)

8. I'm a Chatterbox (Munnings - Chit Chatter, Lost Soldier)
    O-Grayson Farms; B-Fletcher and Carolyn Gray; T-Larry Jones (on I'm a Chatterbox in the first photo)

9. Money'soncharlotte (Mizzen Mast - Something Wicked, Chimes Band)
    O-George and Lori Hall; B-Dr. Oscar Benavides; T-Kelly Breen

10. Oceanwave (Harlan's Holiday - Tamboz, Tapit)
      O-Gary and Mary West; B-Popatop; T-Wayne Catalano

11. Sarah Sis (Sharp Humor - Emerald Gal, Gilded Time)
      O-Joe Ragsdale; B-Catherine Rene White DVM; T-Ingrid Mason

12. Stellar Wind (Curlin - Evening Star, Malibu Moon)
      O-Hronis Racing; B-Keswick Stables and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings; T-John Sadler

13. Birdatthewire (Summer Bird - My Limit, Wagon Limit)
      O-Forum Racing IV; B-Lynn and Kathy Jones; T-Dale Romans

14. Puca (Big Brown - Boat's Ghost, Silver Ghost)
      O-Donegal Racing; B-Jerry Crawford and Paul Pompa Jr.; T-Bill Mott

Also Eligible:
15. *Peace and War (War Front - More Oats Please, Smart Strike)
      O-Qatar Racing; B-Sally J. Anderson; T-Olly Stevens
      *she will run against three-year-old males in Saturday's Grade 3 Pat Day Mile instead of the Oaks

[training at Keeneland in March]

Oaks and Derby photos

The obstructed view of Churchill Downs's famous twin spires from the backstretch.

The week leading up to the Oaks and Derby:

New at Churchill: There was a lot of buzz -- mostly positive -- about the $12 million video screen.

Untapable, ponied to the track by trainer Steve Asmussen.

Untapable training.

Bathtime.

Paddock schooling.

My Miss Sophia was training well ahead of her second place in the Oaks.

Unbridled Forever, whose dam is 2006 Oaks winner Lemons Forever, after her final pre-race blowout leading up to the Oaks, in which she ran third.

California Chrome on the track for a jog...

...and at his barn.

Derby third Danza was training like a "boss" leading up to the race.

Grade 1 Malibu winner Shakin it Up, who was second to Central Banker by a head in a Grade 2 on Derby day, caught the eye in the morning.

Oaks Day, May 2nd:

In the La Troienne Stakes on the Oaks undercard, On Fire Baby (under Joe Johnson) won her second career Grade 1 and became a millionaire.

Marchman before winning his second consecutive Grade 3, the Twin Spires Turf Sprint.

Texas-bred filly Fiftyshadesofgold -- in the silks of the Estate of Clarence Schauerbauer, in whose silks 1987 Derby winner Alysheba also ran -- after winning the Grade 3 Eight Belles, Mike Smith up. Fiftyshadesofgold's third dam Alysbelle is a full sister to Alysheba.

Fiftyshadesofgold.

Claimed for $40,000 on November 30th, Moonshine Mullin won the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes on Friday, with heavy favorite Will Take Charge unplaced.

Moonshine Mullin and Calvin Borel return to the winner's circle.

2012 Travers Stakes-G1 dead-heater Golden Ticket was second in the Alysheba.

Coin Broker, who was third in the Alysheba, under Corey Lanerie.

Win or lose, three-year-old champ and 2013 Travers winner Will Take Charge always catches the eye.

Will Take Charge and Gary Stevens.

Untapable, shortly before winning the Oaks in resounding style.

After their win, Rosie Napravnik and Untapable in a final moment of solitude.

Easing up.

John Velazquez, on the unplaced Got Lucky, rode by and asked, "Do I have enough dirt on my face?"

An outrider congratulates Untapable's connections.

Empress of Midway, who flipped in the gate and was scratched from the Oaks, walking back to the barn. Concerned assistant trainer Jack on her right never took his hand or eye off her.

Derby Day, May 3rd:

Coffee Clique after winning the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile, the first stakes on Derby day.

Making her first start in 11 months, favorite Midnight Lucky and Rosie Napravnik after winning the Grade 1 Humana Distaff. Her only loss was in last year's Kentucky Oaks.

Midnight Lucky walking to the stable area after her 4 1/2-length win.

The great face marking of Scherzinger, who was third behind Midnight Lucky.

Gary Stevens and Global View -- a rare U.S.-bred  by Galileo -- make their way to the winner's circle after the Grade 2 American Turf.

Central Banker prior to winning the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes.

He ran second by a head but the handsome Shakin it Up -- whose granddam Silverbulletday won the 1999 Kentucky Oaks -- didn't look like he'd even had a race after the Churchill Downs Stakes.

Two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan walking on his way to earn his tenth Grade 1 win, the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic -- a race he also won last year.

The owner of one of the Derby horses was ready for the walkover, with his nice shoes in a WalMart bag.

Perfect Drift was third in the 2001 Derby. In 2014, he ponied Derby winner California Chrome to the start.

California Chrome checking out the scene before the walkover.

Longshot Commanding Curve, who gave Dallas Stewart a second consecutive runner-up in the Kentucky Derby. Stewart was third in the Oaks this year with Unbridled Forever.

After the wire, Victor Espinoza on California Chrome and Jose Ortiz on Samraat (fifth) fist-bump.

A grin on Espinoza's face as it begins to sink in.

The Derby winner heads home.

After the Run for the Roses.