2014 Kentucky Oaks Contender: Onlyforyou

When I was fourteen, I discovered a love for Thoroughbred sales. The thrill of choosing a horse from a sale and later watching as it finds success is extraordinary, leaving me to become enthralled with the art of “discovering” a talented horse before its career begins. This led me to make selections from various sales and follow those picks as they blossomed into racehorses, whether they were withdrawn from their respective auctions or not.

Putting pedigree and conformation, as well as movement and potential displayed in breeze shows for juvenile sales, into consideration, I have assembled an army of promising young horses. Among those horses is Onlyforyou, who caught my attention with her athleticism while breezing prior to the 2013 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale. Since then, Onlyforyou has transformed into a talented racehorse who has made a mark on the Kentucky Oaks trail.

Racing Performances

Debuting at Aqueduct on November 10, 2013, Onlyforyou prompted the pace from the outside during the early stages of the six-furlong maiden special weight on the dirt. Once the bay filly took the lead, she never looked back, kicking clear to break her maiden by 2 ¼ lengths.

A month later, after joining Todd Pletcher’s Florida string, Onlyforyou faced winners for the first time in an allowance optional claiming at Gulfstream Park. Again going six furlongs, the Glencrest Farm-owned filly again pressed the brisk pace, tracking the leaders from the inside. Gaining ground on the two fillies ahead of her around the far turn, Onlyforyou became boxed in as the field approached the quarter pole. However, an opening arose, allowing Javier Castellano to angle the Malibu Moon filly to the outside, where she grew even with the leader entering the homestretch. Kicking clear within the final furlong, Onlyforyou drew off to win by a widening 3 ½ lengths.

Onlyforyou’s sophomore debut also marked her graded stakes debut when the filly entered the Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream. Sent off as the favorite, Onlyforyou immediately pursued the lead after breaking from the gate, holding a clear advantage over her rivals as the field galloped out of the chute. Appearing comfortable through a first quarter of 22.65, Onlyforyou continued to lead by a length going into the far turn.  Although Aurelia's Belle began to threaten Onlyforyou's lead from the outside as she drew even with the Pletcher charge near the end of the turn, Onlyforyou kicked clear as the field turned for home, easily drawing off to win by 2 ¾ lengths.

Onlyforyou competed around two turns for the first time in the Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) a month later, again immediately going to the lead as she led her adversaries into the clubhouse turn. A half-length ahead at the mark of the first quarter, Onlyforyou was collared by House Rules down the backstretch, but Onlyforyou briefly began to draw clear of that rival before House Rules began to inch closer to Onlyforyou again around the final bend. However, Javier Castellano remained stationary and Onlyforyou accelerated at the top of the stretch, holding clear to win by 2 ¼ lengths despite drifting in late stretch.

Pedigree Analysis

Onlyforyou is a daughter of Malibu Moon, the sire of 2013 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Orb, as well as the additional grade one winners Ask the Moon, Declan’s Moon, Devil May Care, Eden’s Moon, Funny Moon, Life At Ten, Malibu Mint, and Malibu Prayer. Malibu Moon is not the only son of A.P. Indy to have great success at stud; others include Bernardini, Mineshaft, Pulpit, and Stephen Got Even.

Onlyforyou’s dam, Erhu, is a daughter of a grade one-winning son of Storm Cat in Tactical Cat. This A.P. Indy/Storm Cat sire line cross has been incredibly successful, producing the grade one winners Dialed In, Eden’s Moon, Ice Box, It’s Tricky, Love and Pride, Mi Sueno, Overbrook, Princess of Sylmar, Sky Mesa, Turbulent Descent, and Wickedly Perfect.

The third dam of Onlyforyou, Great Finesse, is the dam of the stakes winners Glaring, Great Escape, Val d’Enchere, and Wavelength, as well as the stakes-placed Paragram. Through this dam line, Onlyforyou traces back to the Reine De Course mare Herodias, who can also be found in the tail female line of the Hall of Fame champion Skip Away, Epsom Derby (gr. I) and Irish Derby (gr. I) victor Commander in Chief, multiple group one winner Warning, and the legendary broodmare sire Prince John.

The nine-furlong distance of the Kentucky Oaks should not be an issue for Onlyforyou, as her pedigree indicates that she can easily be victorious at that distance and she has handled increases in distances rather well. This filly has quickly joined the top sophomore fillies in the nation and will look to remain undefeated along the road to Louisville. However, stronger competition awaits Onlyforyou and she will need to step up her game to maintain her flawless record.