Oaks News

The lone international race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, Friday’s UAE Oaks (G3) at Meydan, features a heavy favorite in Queen Azteca.

Somethinabouther headlines a competitive group of 12 3-year-old fillies, plus one also-eligible, entered in Friday’s $175,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park.

A quick horse from California appears the horse to beat over the traditionally quick surface at Sunland Park in New Mexico on Sunday when Getaway Car tops a field of nine in the $400,000 Sunland Park Derby.

At Tampa Bay Downs, John Hancock and La Cara recorded frontrunning wins in the Sam F. Davis S. and Suncoast to earn points toward respective berths in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Saturday

Much the best over just two rivals, the Bob Baffert filly vaulted to the top of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) points leaderboard with a total of 33 points.

Except for a one-race experiment wearing blinkers which didn't pan out, Tenma has been the pre-eminent figure among the three-year-old fillies based in Southern California.

The form of last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) will be under the microscope on two fronts Saturday.

Speed King lived up to his moniker in Saturday's $1 million Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park, scoring in gate-to-wire fashion in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series while the betting favorites generally endured far more eventful trips.

Running Away, a granddaughter of 2005 Kentucky Oaks winner Summerly, ran herself into the Oaks picture in the Busanda at Aqueduct. Later at Fair Grounds, Simply Joking dominated the Silverbulletday.

What could be the start of a good seven days for trainer Kenny McPeek begins on Saturday when he saddles two prime contenders in the $150,000 Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds.