Bourbonette Oaks 2017: Preview and Picks
Saturday marks the biggest day in racing in Florence, Kentucky, culminating with the running of the (G3) Spiral Stakes. 3-year-old colts and geldings with Kentucky Derby dreams will invade Turfway Park looking to stamp their ticket to Churchill Downs. Not to be outdone by their male counterparts the ladies will have their turn to shine in the $100,00 (G3) Bourbonette Oaks.
A full field of 12 talented sophomore fillies will compete with a chance of making the starting gate in the Kentucky Oaks. This field is deep with up and coming fillies that could have all kinds of talent and even make some noise in the 3-year-old filly division this spring and summer. Let's meet the field ...
#1 Northwest Bourbon (30/1) Corey Lanerie - Dallas Stewart
The lone maiden in the field might be up against it when it comes to the win factor in the Bourbonette. The daughter of Not Bourbon did show promise in her last race running 2nd in a maiden special weight at Fair Grounds. She's made leaps forward in every race in terms of Beyer speed figures, so it's not crazy to think she could hit the board.
#2 Jenna J (12/1) Rodney Prescott - Jason Cook
The daughter of Archarcharch has been very impressive in her two starts. She's won both of those sprinting here at Turfway. She's out of an Unbridled's Song mare, so the distance shouldn't be a problem, but she will need to be able to rate to win. She's not as seasoned as some of the top contenders, but she's not without an outside chance.
#3 Darkwingsoverdubai (7/2) Frank Alvarado - Jerry Hollendorfer
It seems the rich get richer for Jerry Hollendorfer and his fillies. Hollendorfer has had the magic touch in terms of the fillies with the success of Songbird and Unique Bella. This one is a daughter of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass. She's been nothing but brilliant in her two career starts at Golden Gate Fields. She'll be going a route of ground for the first time, but she has distance in her pedigree with Malibu Moon as her damsire. On the day the Dubai World Cup is run, you might just see Darkwingsoverdubai in the Winners' Circle in Florence, Kentucky.
#4 On Her Honor (20/1) Alonso Quinonez - Brett Santangelo
This daughter of To Honor and Serve broke her maiden on this very track in stylish fashion by some 6 3/4-lengths. She's run back to back good races in stakes company but she might just be a tier below this group. She'll need to improve quite a bit to beat this field.
#5 China Grove (3/1) Julien Leparoux - Ben Colebrook
The morning line favorite for the Bourbonette, China Grove comes into this race off an ultra-impressive performance in a stake at Laurel Park. The daughter of City Zip has seen nothing but stakes quality competition since breaking her maiden first time out at Keeneland. She's faced the likes of Bode's Dream, Farrell, and Prettycitydancer. She has the right running style and should enjoy the distance. Major threat.
#6 Delphinia (7/2) Luis Saez - Wesley Ward
Delphinia has been nothing short of spectacular in her last two starts. She broke her maiden at Gulfstream sprinting on the turf. She pressed the pace and won on a track where closers dominated. In her last start, she embarrassed stakes fillies at Turfway by some 7 lengths. The main question with her is the distance. She's a daughter of the lightning fast sprinter, The Factor but her damsire is Roar ... Rachel Alexandra ring a bell? If this filly handles the distance I think she'll win and do it impressively. Top Pick
#7 Fun (10/1) Chris Landeros - Ian Wilkes
Much like China Grove, Fun has seen nothing but stakes quality fillies since winning her debut race. She's very interesting to me, her last race in a route allowance on the turf looks to be the perfect prep for this race. She was well in hand most the race and only asked to run late. She ran well for 3rd. She's already (G1) stakes placed running 3rd to Dancing Rags in the Alcibiades at Keeneland. She's my long shot play of the day and I think she'll have all sorts of FUN in the Bourbonette.
#8 Gilded Lily (8/1) Tyler Gaffalione - Michael Maker
Gilded Lady is another lightly raced filly that could be any kind of good. She's a daughter of Breeders' Cup Sprint Champion Speightstown, and she's out of an A.P. Indy mare. Her pedigree says she has the perfect mix of speed an stamina. She's done everything right in her first two starts, which were both at Turfway. She's trying stakes fillies for the first time. I'll be using underneath, but I wouldn't be surprised to see her win.
#9 Awesome Boss (8/1) Channing Hill - Kenny Mcpeek
Awesome Boss in the first of a pair of McPeek fillies looking to take the Bourbonette. She's a hard trying filly who finally broke through in her last start in a maiden special weight at Oaklawn. Her last two starts were both really good, and she seems tactical with a bit of a turn of foot. She's a possibility at a price and a definite use in exotics.
#10 Purely a Dream (15/1) Robby Albarado - Kenny Mcpeek
Purely a Dream is the second of the McPeek fillies. She's making her sophomore debut and it seems her trainer has picked a salty group for her to try first time as a 3-year-old. She's shown a glimpse of talent, but I would be surprised to see her hit the board.
#11 I'mluckysgirl (50/1) E E Prentice - James Spicer
I've seen worse 50/1 shots. This daughter of Lookin at Lucky showed some promise last fall at Indiana Grand where she broke her maiden by some 2 1/4 lengths. Spicer then through her to the wolves in the Pochahontas, and again in the Golden Rod. She's also making her seasonal debut. She's not one of my picks but I wouldn't criticize anyone playing her at long odds.
#12 Miss O'Hara (12/1) A Cruz - George Arnold
This daughter of Colonel John showed some real promise when she broke her maiden on the turf at Churchill. Her synthetic race in Ocala was just okay and her dirt races left a lot to be desired. She is interesting, but the post might be too much to overcome.