Is Stellar Wind on a Fast Track to Stardom?

While all eyes will be on some of the top 2015 Kentucky Derby contenders, the fairer sex will take to the track for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks, just one race before Dortmund headlines the Santa Anita Derby. While a future Kentucky Derby winner could well be on display, the Kentucky Oaks also could see a top contender produced Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita. The chief suspect to earn that role is the impressive and lightly raced daughter of Curlin, Stellar Wind. Heady stuff for a filly that was running in maiden races at Laurel Park late last year, but the well bred chestnut has come a long way in a short amount of time.

A troubled, but closing third in her career debut (beaten less than a length by a future stakes winner) on November 20, Stellar Wind (Curlin--Evening Star, by Malibu Moon) came right back to dominate maiden fillies at Laurel Park when stretched out to a flat mile for her second start. The 8 ¾-length maiden romp caught the attention of Hronis Racing, and the good looking miss was purchased privately soon after. Transferred from the Donald Barr barn to that of John Sadler after the sale, her new connections wasted no time is challenging their new runner in the deep end of the racing pool.

Stellar Wind’s Southern Californian debut came in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes on February 28. The Virginia-bred started a beat slow, but quickly got herself in touch with the field heading into the first turn. From there, Stellar Wind and her new pilot, Victor Espinoza, always looked good. She relaxed from the outside on the backstretch, before picking off horses on the far turn while Espinoza offered only mild encouragement. After rallying wide into the stretch, her rider asked for a little more, and Stellar Wind responded in impressive fashion.

They were walking up front so I had to press the pace by the three-eighths pole," said Espinoza after the win. "She was just waiting for me to command her. I knew I could just shake the reins at her and she would just go. I think farther would be better for her.” Sent off at a juicy 7-1 that afternoon, the secret is now out on this new California Doll. Look for her to rule a solid favorite in the Santa Anita Oaks, as she looks to make it three wins in a row in the $400,000, 8 ½ furlong affair.

Back to try again will be the second and third place finishers from the Santa Ysabel, Light the City and Glory, as well as the top three finishers from the grassy China Doll Stakes; Singing Kitty, Curlin’s Fox, and She’s a Big Winner. Rounding out the field will be a pair of promising fillies who went at it all the way to the wire in a late February optional claimer; Luminance and Wild At Heart.

All in all, there is not one weak link in this field, but it is the race favorite who could be something really special. Get ready Kentucky Oaks’ fillies, there could be a Stellar Wind blowing your way.