Remington Park Oaks analysis: Juju's Map towers above field
Juju’s Map has faced some of the best 3-year-old fillies in the country since she got her start last year as a juvenile. But while stronger fields lined up in Saturday's Grade 3 Dogwood at Churchill Downs and the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx, Juju’s Map is taking the path of least resistance in Sunday's $200,000, Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks.
By Liam’s Map and out of the Flatter mare Nagambie, Juju’s Map finished second as the odds-on favorite on debut. In her second start, she stretched out from 5 1/2 furlongs to a flat mile. The filly broke on top and extended her advantage at every point of call en route to a sparkling 5 3/4-length victory.
Outing number three saw her back in the winner’s circle, this time the 4 1/4-length victress of the Alcibiades (G1). But as fast as she was, Juju’s Map had no answer to eventual champion Echo Zulu in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), checking in 5 1/4lengths behind the winner in second.
Juju’s Map has not been quite so successful in 2022. She started strong with a 4 3/4-length victory in an optional claimer on the Kentucky Oaks undercard. Then she finished third in her next two starts as the odds-on favorite. In the Mother Goose (G2), she set the early pace before weakening to finish 7 3/4 lengths behind winner Gerrymander. It was a very similar story in the Monmouth Oaks (G3). Once again Juju’s Map set the early pace, but by the time the field hit the stretch, she had lost the lead, finishing 3 1/3 lengths behind winner Shahama.
Seven fillies will enter the starting gate to compete for second. Front-running Free Like A Girl has the best shot at defeating Juju’s Map. The daughter of El Deal earned a field best 101 Beyer Speed Figure in the Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Stakes two starts back at Louisiana Downs. In her most recent start, she was second in the Charles Town Oaks (G3). Though she has raced often in state-bred company, her starts against open company have been decent.
Hits Pricey Legacy is another that has a shot at a minor placing. Like Free Like A Girl, she races frequently in state-bred company, but the career high 90 Beyer she earned last out while winning the Oklahoma Stallion Fillies Stakes puts her in a good spot.
Long shot Cleopatras Charge won the Sunland Park Oaks back in March but has not done much since. Her best effort was a third-place finish in the Toni Samora Memorial Stakes, missing the win by just 3/4 length.
Lightly raced Bionica could be a live long shot for trainer Steve Asmussen. By Tapit and out of the Candy Ride mare Modify, the filly clearly did not take to the turf in her debut, finishing a non-threatening ninth. Switching to the dirt was just the ticket as Bionica made quick work of a maiden field at Lone Star before dismantling an allowance field at Remington. She earned an 80 Beyer for both of those races, so she will need to take a couple steps forward to compete with Juju’s Map. She does have some class, though, as her dam Modify is a half-sister to Grade 1 sprinting winner Yaupon.
Rollin Chrome, Hannah’s Haven and My Friend Amy complete the field. The Oaks is the 9th on the 12-race card and is scheduled to go to post at 8:08 p.m. EDT.