Cathryn Sophia is the Queen of the Kentucky Oaks
Cathryn Sophia returned to her impressive winning ways when she made a bold move down the long Churchill Downs stretch to draw away and win the $1,000,000 Kentucky Oaks (G1) by 2 ¾ lengths in front of a record Oaks Day crowd of 124,589.
The John Servis trainee rebounded from a third place finish in the Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland to win her first career grade one stakes race. After that defeat, Servis announced that Cathryn Sophia was going to run in the Eight Belles instead of the Kentucky Oaks, but when the superstar filly Songbird was withdrawn from the race due to illness, Servis made a wise decision made the Oaks his goal.
Javier Castellano showed why he has won the last three Eclipse Awards as Outstanding Jockey with a masterful ride on Cathryn Sophia. At the start of the nine-furlong contest, the two Stonestreet Stables runners, Terra Promessa and the 2.50-1 favorite Rachel’s Valentina, sprung out of gate and to vie for the early lead. It was Terra Promessa who got the lead in the first turn while Rachel’s Valentina and Lewis Bay were right next to each other behind the leader.
Castellano found an ideal position behind the leaders sitting just a bit off the rail. With early fractions of 23.32, 47.87, and 1:12.60 Castellano waited patiently with the daughter of Street Boss while still in fourth position. Entering the clubhouse turn, Castellano eased Cathryn Sophia outside and he began to move up to the leaders.
Coming down the stretch the Stonestreet duo began to fade and Lewis Bay made the first move and took the lead, but Castellano had dead aim on the finish line. When he asked Cathryn Sophia to give her best she left Lewis Bay behind easily.
Land Over Sea made a big closing move from 11th after a difficult trip filled with traffic and rallied to pass Lewis Bay to get second place. Rachel’s Valentina tired badly down the stretch and finished in sixth.
After the disappointing performance by Rachel’s Valentina, trainer Todd Pletcher said, “Johnny (Velazquez) said she started slipping away from him at about the three-eighths pole. She was in the spot we envisioned for her in the early part of the race, then it just wasn’t there at the end.”
Servis now has an amazing two for four career record at Churchill Downs, with his first win in the Kentucky Oaks joining his victory in the 2004 Kentucky Derby with Smarty Jones. Chuck Zacney, the Managing Partner of the Cash is King ownership group, was a part owner of Afleet Alex. The victory was also the first in the Oaks for Castellano.
After the victory Servis said, “Javier (Castellano) rode her great. I'm so happy. I saw (Castellano) had horse (coming into the stretch) and when he inched up three wide on the outside, I knew he had horse. Oh my God, to have the Derby and Oaks on my resume, and to have only run one each time, it's fantastic."
Cathryn Sophia was sent off as the 4.70-1 second betting choice and paid $11.40, 5.40, and 3.80. her career record now stands at 6: 5-0-1 and the $564,200 winner’s share of the purse pushed her earnings up to $949,720.
Servis said that Cathryn Sophia will ship to Delaware Park to train for a possible start in the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on June 11.