9 GP     The GP Oaks (GII)  [KYO]

   $250.000      3yoF      1 1/16m   Dirt             122lbs

The girls come out to play for big money and stardom as we look at the field for the 2020 GP Oaks (GII) to be run at a mile and a sixteenth on the main track here in Hallendale.  There’s a ton of talent in this one, as anyone would expect, and I landed on Irrefutable as my top choice today.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s easy to pick Mb Stables in the big races, but it’s more that this filly had a tough race last out and I think if shes gets better position (and she almost has to) this will be a spot for her to get the job done.  I’ll go over two stalls and put Fashionable in the second spot… and she comes from the same last out race as the top choice.  She closed like a freight train to be second over this track, so she has to be given a big look.  I think she had a better trip although she was way back when they turned for home.  Let’s stick with the middle posts and put The Belle Tolls in the third spot.  She looked good winning the Las Virgenes (GII) and certainly has everything you want… she’s probably the post time favorite.

I”m chalky here today, but it should be a hum-dinger so grab a cold snack and let’s watch this bunch get at it.

Here’s The Field –

She just doesn’t run bad races…  back to back wins, hasn’t been off of the board since her debut and looked good winning the Island Stakes at SUN in her most recent.  She’s never seen graded horses so this is an acid test, but if you like her you may get some odds and I would not be surprised if she was right in the thick of things when they hit the wire.

A bit of a disappointing result in the Davona Dale here last out when she just didn’t show her normal self.  She has thrown a couple of bad ones and she’s also been in the middle of some very tough and classy races.  Obviously she needs her best but her best makes her a big horse.

Closed well to be third in the Alexandra Stakes (GII) at FG last out and another race like that and she has to be a factor.  She’s won two of five starts and none involved stakes company, but even that sixth i the Starlet (GI) can be looked at as a solid effort.  If she closes like last out and gets a clear path, look out.

Made a late move to be fourth in the fore-mentioned Alexandra Stakes and that certainly is her mode… she loves to close when the money is on the line.  She has a stakes win vs. NY-bred and seems to like the longer distances so she’s another that has a solid chance here.

Was a tiring sixth in the Devona Dale (GII) and sold right after that start for $275.000.  She had back to back wins prior to that including a nice win over this track in the Foward Gal (GIII).  She shows a bullet work at SA getting ready for this, so she seems to like the new barn and is a serious contender.

Another that sold prior to this start, changing hands for $109.000 as the big barn takes over the chores.  She tied a bit in the late going of the Busanda after racing against less types, but that was a third place finish only a length back and the big barn could improve a bit with her.

Stable mate to the six horse, she was gaining late in the Davona Dale (GII) and although that broke up her four race win streak, that was more than just a solid effort as she did get in a bit of traffic and still managed to only be a half-length back at the finish.  If she gets a clear trip, look out, she could be the one to beat.

Solid sting of graded starts for this classy filly and you don’t put nearly $650.000 in the bank at this juncture of the career without being a heck of a race horse.  She won her ’20 debut at SA and looks ready to come right after them again here today.  She’s a must use in the exactas.

That was one heck of a move in the lane when second beaten a half length in the Devona Dale (GII).  She only has her maiden win to show for her efforts but if she is anything like that last out race and can get even a bit closer to the pace, she is a very very dangerous contender.

Didn’t show much when tenth in the Alexandra (GII) and she’s facing some of the same in this race.  She was fourth in her other graded try and has three wins to show for her efforts, so she certainly has ability.  It’s just a question of can she compete with this type of class.  We answer that here.

Well, she’s about as consistent as you could ever ask a horse to be and although she only has a maiden win, she’s been close in her last four including that GI race at SA where she was third.  The post is certainly doing her no favors, but she certainly seems to have a nose for getting to the wire when the money is on the line and you can’t fault that.

Tired to be eighth in the Alexandra (GII) and we know that there’s more like that in this one.  She was second in the Damsole (GII) at AQU back in Dec, so don’t think she doesn’t have what it takes.  The post is bad and she needs to bounce back from that last out race.  She will need her best.

Consistent type that will need some help to draw into the field but I’m not sure they want any parts of this one.  For her first graded race, this would be a lot to ask.

Two starts and hasn’t been more than 5f.  This sure would be a tough spot to break maiden.

Categories: Grade II