Tenrikyo Shines in the Rain to Win KY Oaks

By Nynl Stables on May 4, 2019

KY Oaks (Grade 1)- $1,250.000 Purse
CD- For Filles Three Years Old
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
May 3, 2019

This weekend will go down as a rainy one for both the KYO and KYD, following the same script that we saw last year. With the track condition now known for the KYD, it will mark the third year in a row both of the big races will be run on off tracks. Tenrikyo had never run an off track before, but she was working very well heading into the race and seemed poised to run a big race. She would be made the favorite for the race, in a field that did not really seem to have the common top choice that we will see in the Derby, and after nine furlongs, she would get the job done. Tenrikyo can now proudly call herself a KYO champion! The winning trainer for the race is Smokey Stover, earning his first win in the race. Aboard the winner was I Ortiz Jr, and it becomes his first KYO win as well. The time of the win in the mud was 1:52.32. Let’s take a look!

(½ Mile- :48.46)- Appealing Ginger shoots out of the gate for The Sidley Stud to start things off, but would become no match for the outside push. Both Panentheism, for Smokey Stover and Dream Whisperer, for Mb Stables, get that outside push and move to the front. Dream Whisperer then shows a little more and clears everyone by two lengths rounding the first turn. Panentheism and Appealing Ginger are side by side for second after half a mile. Totally Baroque, of Fractious, is positioned well on the rail, in fourth, and is a length ahead of a three wide group consisting of, from inside to outside: Stormy Embrace (Mb Stables), Cardi B (Gdp Inc), and You Just Have To Wait (Estero Farms). Behind them, running five lengths back, we have our eventual winner, Tenrikyo, on the inside of four wide for Smokey Stover. Also in that foursome are Cannolo (D J C Racing Stables), Deliberate Miss (Mb Stables), Southern Two Step (The Sidley Stud). The trailers are Blue Caviar (Waldo), Love Struck Baby (D J C Racing Stables), and Z Command (Joshua Stables).

(3/4 Mile- 1:13.28)- There is some shuffling of positions on the backstretch portion, but the leader remains the same as Dream Whisperer shows that way. Her lead has been cut just a tad as Appealing Ginger closes in. Panentheism, who was up there as well, started to become unable to keep up with them at the top of the turn. Meanwhile, Totally Baroque, who was really making the rail work to her advantage moved in closer and was just about even with Appealing Ginger for second now. On the outside, there was no more waiting for You Just Have To Wait as she used her clear outer lane to move up to be within about three lengths. Tenrikyo, who was also on the rail, used the advance of Totally Baroque as her cue to move forward as well and seemed to be eyeing the second lane for rounding the turn. Within this group, Stormy Embrace had crept forward a little as well but may have needed more room. Back further, Z Command shows her intentions of a late charge on the outside as the rest of the field runs steady.

(Top OF Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- As they make their way around the turn, Dream Whisperer’s lead is now evaporating. Appealing Ginger responded well at this point to pull even with leader, and as they hit the top of the stretch she would emerge with the advantage, but there would be much more work to be done. Totally Baroque came off the rail to make the pass of Dream Whisperer, and therefore, Tenrikyo needed to move out to the fourth lane to make her own. She was now part of a group of six horses that were all within a length. Also involved at the front here, are Stormy Embrace, who was looking good, and You Just Have To Wait, who had an outside trip throughout, but was full of run at this time. There was a gap of two lengths to the fading Panentheism and the advancing Cannolo. Blue Caviar was coming through on the rail, and the outside push that Z Command had been looking for, never materialized. Others were keeping pace in the second half of the field.

(Finish- 1:52.32)- It does not take long in the stretch Tenrikyo comes bursting through a hole between Appealing Ginger and Stormy Embrace to take over the lead. She would never look back as she goes on to win the race by a length, and looked like she would just keep drawing away if the race were even longer. It got close for second, but Totally Baroque prevails for the position ahead of the outside running You Just Have To Wait and the late bid from Cannolo. Stormy Embrace ran very well, and was close, but gets a frustrating check-less fifth place finish for her efforts. Blue Caviar was excellent in the stretch, but probably started her run a little too late as she takes sixth, ahead of Love Struck Baby, another who likely began making her move too late. Appealing Ginger dropped to eighth. After them, there was a gap of about three lengths to the rest of the field. Z Command, Southern Two Step, Dream Whisperer, Deliberate Miss, Panentheism, and Cardi B make up the rest of the running order.

About The Winner- Tenrikyo, trained by Smokey Stover, and ridden by I Ortiz Jr, is a three year old filly by Grandeur, and is out of Set Sail. She was bred in Florida as a second quarter two year old by Smokey Stover, the only trainer for which she has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fourth in seven starts, and her second stake win, both of which are Grade 1’s. Her career earnings are now $1,153.000.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Tenrikyo

Smokey Stover

Ortiz I Jr

3.45

1¹