Watching Godolphin’s dark bay filly GOOD CHEER power through morning gallops this week at Churchill Downs, one would be hard-pressed to predict the unbeaten filly won’t continue her roll in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Friday. The Oaks is race 11 with a post time of 5:51 p.m.
The three-year-old by Medaglia d’Oro has a bold, straight white blaze and a bit of a wall eye on her right side, but she’s a beauty and the Brad Cox trainee is six-for-six in her career.
Good Cheer, who has recent Beyer Speed Figures of 91 (Fair Grounds Oaks) and 89 (Rachel Alexandra Stakes) has post 11 in a 13-horse field. Five G was scratched on Thursday morning.
Out in post 13 is QUIETSIDE (#14 saddle towel), who has won two straight graded stakes with Beyers of 91 and 86 for Shortleaf Stable and trainer John Ortiz. She likes to race close to the pace, but there seems to be an abundance of pace in this field. The Malibu Moon filly might have a wide trip chasing the pace.
Mark Casse, Woodbine’s multiple leading trainer, has a fast one in the field for breeder Tracy Farmer, LA CARA, who will take no prisoners on the pace. It’s a question if she can sustain that through the nine furlongs. Bob Baffert trainee TENMA has won five of six races with Beyers all over the place (75 in latest). And the big grey gal BALLERINA D’ORO will love a pace duel, so she rates a look at 10-to-1.
JEN’S PICKS – Box Them Up!
11 – GOOD CHEER
6 – BALLERINA D’ORO
4 – DREXEL HILL
7 – LA CARA
*Be sure to play the race with the favourite Good Cheer perhaps not winning!
Kentucky Oaks/Twin Spires Oaks Study Guide here.
KENTUCKY OAKS, FRIDAY, Churchill Downs
Post / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Odds
1 Early On, Saffie Joseph Jr., Edgard Zayas, 30-1
2 Simply Joking, Whit Beckman, Florent Geroux, 10-1
3 Fondly, Graham Motion, Irad Ortiz Jr., 30-1
4 Drexel Hill, Whit Beckman, Ben Curtis, 30-1
5 Quickick, Thomas Amoss, Umberto Rispoli, 30-1
6 Ballerina d’Oro, Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 10-1
7 La Cara, Mark Casse, Dylan Davis, 6-1
8 Five G, George Weaver, Manuel Franco, 12-1 SCRATCHED
9 Tenma, Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez, 12-1
10 Take Charge Milady, Kenny McPeek, Brian Hernandez Jr., 12-1
11 Good Cheer, Brad Cox, Luis Saez, 6-5
12 Anna’s Promise, Carlos David, Junior Alvarado, 30-1
13 Bless the Broken, William Walden, John Velazquez, 30-1
14 Quietside, John Ortiz, Jose Ortiz, 8-1
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