KY Oaks – Grade 1 – $1,250.000
CD – 1 1/8 Mile – Dirt
For Fillies Three Years Old
May 5, 2023
In a field that had been butting heads for months in graded company, Yow had faced only one of them and that in the ungraded Busher, her only win in stakes company. Not only was the KY Oaks her graded debut, but it was also a winning one. She took the lead out of the gate and never looked back.
The field was a jumble behind Yow as they rounded the clubhouse turn, with Muddy Buddy and Bay The Lady laying a length off in second. Into the backstretch, she opened up by a length and a half and set a brisk pace.
As they straightened out in the stretch, the spread out about eight wide behind her, with Bay the Lady still clinging to second and Snake Island making a move in the at the leaders. In a dramatic finish, Snake Island nearly caught the eventual winner, but Yow held on by a nose.
Complete order of finish:
1 Yow (Royalty Stables) Lead at every call and held on to win by a nose.
2 Snake Island (Night Mare Racing) Made a big run late from mid-pack to claim second.
3 Bay The Lady (Mb Stables) Stalked the pace throughout and held on for third.
4 La Roo (Our Athletes) Late run to finish fourth in a dead heat.
4 Scarlett Dream (Arindel) Came from well off the pace to share fourth.
6 Untidy (Mb Stables) Made a move, but too little too late.
7 Bailus (Threshold) In traffic, made a move from eleventh to seventh.
8 Shadow State (Smokey Stover) Made up ground but finished eighth.
9 Niagra Keys (Alydar Stables) Trailed until the last call, never a factor.
10 Muddy Buddy (Mb Stables) Close early, faded badly.
11 A Lot To Like (Riggins Racing) Never a factor.
12 Celine (D J C Racing Stables) Fourth early, faded badly.
13 One Fine Dame (D J C Racing Stables) Never a factor.
14 Shining At Knight (Our Athletes) Never a factor.
Yow is by Heretowinthisfight x Peppermint Valentine (Worst Case Scenario). The win was her third in six starts, her first in graded company and brings her career earnings to $963.800. Congratulations to Royalty Racing and Yow.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
