WO Oaks Stakes
$500.000 Dirt Stake At 1 1/8 Mile For Three Year Old Fillies Bred In Canada
Sunday afternoon the new Queen filly of Canada will be crowned when the winner of the WO Oaks crosses the wire. The 2017 edition will feature nine Canadian bred fillies all looking to take home the title and their share of the $500.000 purse.
1- Balance The Books (Trained by Mo Mentum Farm, Ridden by Pennington F)
It has been a quick rise up the ranks for Balance The Books. A smart $4.330 auction purchase in December by the connections went from a bottom level allowance race, mid level starter allowance to a second place finish in an Ontario bred stake last time out now to the big stage of the WO Oaks. Her works are headed in the right direction and all indications say she should like the distance. Not sure she can stick with the heavy hitters yet but has a chance to make some people really happy at a long price.
2- Baby Goes To Rio (Trained by Aml Racing, Ridden by McMahon C J)
A big time purchase for the stable of Aml Racing in April, likely with the intent of pointing to this race. The 1:36.3 work back in April at GP was likely the trigger for the sale. She was able to back up that purchase for her new connections with a sold, all be it on a mid level track, two length victory early in May. She is the only one in the race to already give the tough mile and an eight distance a try. She will be looking for a hot early pace so she can run down the front runners turning for home.
3- Toleration (Trained by Mb Stables, Ridden by Velazquez J R)
The first of three entries to be sent north for the WO Oaks for Mb Stables is Toleration. Toleration is one of the more experienced stake runners in the field. She put in what most would consider the best race of her career last time out in a game second place finish in the GIII Fantasy at OP. If she can carry that form into this one she should be one to watch.
4- Watch Me Now (Trained by Nolespan Racing, Ridden by Talamo J)
A very good claim back in March by Nolespan Racing is Watch Me Now. She was able to run a very respectable fourth off that $25.000 claim in the GI Ashland. Then backed that up with a solid second place finish in a WO allowance that was run in a very quick time. She will be one to watch in the ON bred ranks for the next few years and is one I see coming home with a check this weekend.
5- Silent Waters (Trained by Mb Stables, Ridden by Alberado R J)
Silent Waters only missed out by a length in her most recent start, the GI SA Oaks. She will likely be a big factor in the race. She will likely go off as the post time favorite and rightfully so. She will likely have to contend with three or four other fillies that all have a great shot at taking her down. In the end those other horses will be too much for Silent Waters to hold off.
6- Whispering Nurse (Trained by D J C Racing Stables, Ridden by Ortiz I Jr)
Seven career starts, seven top three finishes, exactly how trainers draw it up, exactly how it basically never happens. This filly slowly worked her way up to graded stake company and finally joined the ranks last time with an impressive win in the GII Eight Belles at CD. Her most recent work also indicates she isn’t done improving and is ready for another big start. If she can put in a race like her last work she could easily get the job done again in this one.
7- Updated (Trained by Mb Stables, Ridden by Bejarano R)
The most likely pace setter in this years edition of the WO Oaks is Updated. He used that tactic last time out in an optional claimer at PRX to great success, winning wire to wire that day. She will try and be the rabbit for her stable mates to run down late and likely wont be a big factor as they hit the wire.
8- She Needsa Brazilian (Trained by Hawaiian Shirt Guy, Ridden by Moran D)
She Needsa Brazilian has been an impressive turf runner early on in her career, which includes winning the GI BC Turf Juvenile Filly race last year. But she is back on the dirt for the first time since last June. Not totally sure what to expect out of this one going back to the dirt but is probably out matched by some of these top dirt fillies.
9- Zero Knowledge (Trained by Chili King Stables, Ridden by Boulanger G)
The WO Oaks is an interesting choice by the new connections of Zero Knowledge. She was claimed only a few weeks ago from a $9.000 claimer at PIM that she won and was then quickly shipped to WO for the Oaks. Her race times and workouts suggest she is a step or two behind this group of horses and will have her work cut out for her to stay with these.
My Selections: 6/3/4
Categories: Ungraded
