Power Squeeze enters Kentucky Oaks picture with Suncoast win

Feb 10, 2024 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Power Squeeze entered the Kentucky Oaks (G1) picture on Saturday with a ground-saving score in the $100,000 Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

Ridden by Daniel Centeno, Power Squeeze rallied up the inside in upper stretch and drew off to win by 2 3/4 lengths. The 3-1 second choice in a field of six, Power Squeeze paid $8 after covering one mile and 40 yards over a fast track in 1:40.22

Whocouldaskformo finished second by a head over America's Vow, with Managing Mischief and Gorgeous Girl finishing fourth and fifth respectively. The disappointment in the race was 2-5 favorite Life Talk, who came up empty and trailed the field.

All save Life Talk earned Oaks qualifying points. Power Squeeze earned 20 points, while Whocouldaskformo secured 10 points. America's Vow garnered six points, Managing Mischief four points, and Gorgeous Girl two points.

The Suncoast was the third win in five starts for Power Squeeze, a daughter of Union Rags owned by Lea Farms and trained by Jorge Delgado. Power Squeeze has now won three in a row and preceded her Suncoast victory with a five-length tally in the one-mile Cash Run S. at Gulfstream on Jan. 1.

The other Oaks qualifier on Saturday was the $100,000 Las Virgenes (G3) at Santa Anita. However, two-length winner Kinza is ineligible for the Oaks as she is trained by Bob Baffert, who is currently suspended from racing at Churchill Downs.

Kinza improved her record to 2-for-2 after completing one mile over a fast track in 1:37.03. She paid $4 to win and races for Michael Lund Petersen.

Finishing second was Kopion, who had 1 1/2 lengths on She's a Tempest. Farther back was the Baffert-trained Nothing Like You and Great Forty Eight.

Earning Oaks points from the Las Virgenes were Kopion (10), She's a Tempest (6), and Great Forty Eight (2). Kopion now has 20 points in total and Great Forty Eight has four.