4/30/21

 14   CD          KY Oaks  (GI)

$1,250.000    3yoF      1/18m  Dirt         121lbs

I really do believe that this year’s 3yo filly class may be one of the best if not the best groups of all time… and if you are looking for a filly to put towards the top, the Arindel owned Naples is certainly one that is proving to be a great great race filly.  Now, she adds to that resume’ by taking the 2021 KY Oaks (GI) by a length, this time staying a bit further off of the pace than is her norm, but when asked, she responded and went right by them late to take the big score.  The final running time was 1:48¹ for the mile and an eighth.  E Road ran a huge race for Fractious to be second, again closing like a truck down the lane and securing the place in only her sixth start… she’s certainly a filly that has to be watched moving forward.  The big barn is hard to ignore in these grade one stakes races and Mb Stables grabbed the third spot with Intolerable nosing out Alydar Stables’ Gracie G for third.

The field of fourteen was only separated by six lengths, again showing the competitiveness of this years fillies.

The starting gate was full for this one, the crowd began to clamor towards the rail as they were loaded… and away in the 2021 KY Oaks.  Away well, Tall And Fast showing speed from the rail, Sundress and Shes A Super Freak giving chase, then the quad of Gracie G on the rail, Slckmoment Laga on the outside with Intolerable and E Road between them.  Another gap back to Mayflower skimming the inside, Hot Summer and Naples towards the outside and Soviet Sensation in the two path.  then another gap back to the trailing trio of Secret Eyes, Exultant Gal and Creepy Crawlies.

Around the clubhouse turn and nearing the run down the backstretch, they had six and a half furlongs to run with Tall And Fast continuing to set the pace.  Sundress and Shes A Super Freak in tow, two lengths back to Gracie G on the inside of Intolerable, E Road and Slckmoment Laga following along, back to the rail for Mayflower, Naples in the three path,  Hot Summer caught extremely wide, Soviet Sensation back towards the rail, then Secret Eys, a long gap back to Exultant Gal and Creepy Crawlies, the back marker.

Down the backside, past the track kitchen and now into the far turn, the flew past the five sixteenths pole… Tall And Fast had company.  Still showing the way, the gray had a neck lead as another gray, Sundress was now turning up the heat… and she brought others with her, Shes A Super Freak in the three path, Intolerable widest of that group, Gracie G still saving ground and just in behind that top flight, Mayflower next to that one, E Road, Naples four wide and Slckmoment Laga continuing to be the widest of all.  Another gap back to Secret Eyes on the rail, Soviet Sensation between horses Hot Summer on her flank, then the trailing duo of Creepy Crawlies and Exultant Gal.

Now into the lane and three sixteenths of a mile to run, this one was changing fast as Tall And Fast had put the cue in the rack… Sundress up to take over, Shes A Super Freak and Gracie G doing the inside/outside on her, Intolerable wide but with a clear path to the finish, Naples now moving well in the second flight with E Road and Mayflower, Tall And Fast wilting on the rail,   Slckmoment Laga taking the long way home, still widest of all, back towards the inside for the trio of Soviet Sensation, Hot Summer and Secret Eyes, with Creepy Crawlies and Exultant Gal still at the rear.

Down the stretch… we had six across the track… Gracie G, Sundress towards the inside, Naples moving quickest of all with Intolerable on the outside, Shes A Super Freak and E Road splitting those couples as the rest were digging in… the run to the wire was on and it was just a matter of who wanted it the most.

Deep stretch and to the finish, Naples just found a gear that nobody else had, opening up late and cruising home to take the KY Oaks in fine fashion.  E Road closed a late gap to take the second spot by a neck over Intolerable, nosing out Gracie G for third.  Sundress was another quarter length back in fifth, Shes A Super Freak sixth, Slckmoment Laga seventh, Mayflower eighth, Soviet Sensation ninth, Creepy Crawlies tenth, Exultant Gal eleventh, Hot Summer twelfth, Secret Eyes thirteenth and Tall And Fast was fourteenth.

Naples is a 3yo chestnut filly by Shark Force – Pivotal Cherokee, by Cherokee Scope, and she was bred in Cal by Momentum Farm. She was acquired three races back for $750.000 via Private Purchase, and she has won all three of those races under the guidance of Arindel, and the sky certainly seems to be the limit for this talented 3yo.  She now has six wins and a second from nine starts and shows $1,513.000 in earnings, $1,270.000 of that coming in this season. 

Congratulations to Arindel and Naples… your 2021 KY Oaks winner. 

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast       Time: :47⁴  1:11³  1:35⁴  1:48¹
$1 Exacta: 10 – 5 Paid 1,200.40          $1 Trifecta: 10 – 5 – 6 Paid 1,573.40
Scratched: Last Lady

Naples broke in hand, lacked early interest while racing 3p, moved to 6p through the far turn while beginning to advance, found more at the furlong marker, clearing late, won driving.  E Road mid-pack early, lost ground down the backside moving into the 3p, responded when asked at the top of the lane, good late effort.  Intolerable good early speed, 4p much of the race, drifted 6p into the lane, continued on well while no threat to the winner.  Gracie G tracked the pace from an inside position, up to press the leader at the furlong marker, brief lead, out-finished.  Sundress tracked the pace with a ground saving trip, 3p in deep stretch, no excuse.  Shes A Super Freak tracked the pace, clear into deep stretch, out-finished.  Slckmoment Laga wide trip throughout, some late foot.  Mayflower rated back patiently, showed interest to the furlong marker, out-finished, no excuse.  Soviet Sensation lacked speed, passed tiring ones.  Creepy Crawlies trailed, passed tiring rivals late.  Exultant Gal was outrun.  Hot Summer was no factor.  Secret Eyes was outrun.  Tall And Fast sent from the gate, set the pace to the far turn, headed, folded.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES