Bottle of Rouge rallies from off the pace to take Virginia Oaks

Betting favorite Bottle of Rouge shook free of early traffic, rallied strongly on the far turn and drew clear to a convincing 4 1/4-length victory Saturday in the second running of the $250,000 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs, earning 37.5 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Flavien Prat.

The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies played out over Colonial's sweeping one-turn configuration before a sold-out crowd. Kadabra (11-1) broke sharply from post 4 under John Velazquez and stalked the early pace as Dazzling Dame (7-5) worked her way to the front in the opening furlong under Jevian Toledo. Bottle of Rouge (4-5) raced between foes in the initial stages and was taken in hand by Prat to avoid an early skirmish, settling into third three lengths off the lead. Hit Parade (5-1) reserved in fourth, three wide under Cristian Torres, and Baffle (26-1) trailed the five-horse field.

Dazzling Dame clicked off fractions of 22.61 and 45.64 seconds with Toledo looking around for dangers on the turn. Kadabra moved closer through three-quarters in 1:09.74, but Bottle of Rouge was already in full flight. Prat angled her in around the turn and maneuvered off the rail turning for home, and the Baffert-trained filly powered past Dazzling Dame with a sustained rally under intermittent urging.

"I thought it was a good run," Prat said. "She's improving race after race and continues to show she can handle more distance."

Bottle of Rouge opened a 2 1/2-length advantage at the stretch call, widened through a mile in 1:34.64 and completed the distance in 1:41.41 on the fast main track. It was the final of five winners on the card for Prat, who also captured a pair of undercard stakes.

"She's been a lot of fun to travel with," assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said. "She ran well at Sunland and came here and won. I wasn't sure how the race would set up because there was a lot of speed, but we were able to settle her. She rated well, and Flavien was patient and found a hole to get through. She did the rest."

Already a Grade 1 winner, Bottle of Rouge began her 3-year-old season with a 1 1/2-length victory in the Sunland Park Oaks in February that earned her 20 Oaks qualifying points. Saturday's win boosted her total to 57.5, strengthening her position to third on the leaderboard for the Kentucky Oaks on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Barnes added that the Baffert barn is loaded for the Oaks trail. "We have two really nice fillies with her and Explora, and we're looking forward to getting to Churchill."

Dazzling Dame proved no match for the winner but kept on to secure the place spot, finishing four lengths clear of third and adding 18.75 points for a new total of 40.75 – good enough for seventh on the leaderboard.

"I really wanted a slower pace, but the other horse chased us the entire way, so I couldn't give her a breather," Toledo said. "She ran really hard and tried her best. She acted more mature today – before she used to be very nervous in the gate, but she relaxed today."

Baffle commenced her bid on the turn, displayed some late interest along the inside fence in the stretch and garnered black type in third, scoring her first 11.75 Oaks points. Hit Parade continued three wide into the stretch and offered no response when asked, finishing fourth for 7.5 points and a new total of 19.5. Kadabra was outpaced at the top of the stretch and came up empty in fifth, picking up 3.75 points.

"We were moving nicely on the backside," Torres said of Hit Parade. "Coming into the turn, she started making a nice move on her own – I never had to ask her. She was traveling well, but by the quarter pole, the leaders ran away, and she just stayed there."

Bottle of Rouge paid $3.60, $2.10 and $2.10. Dazzling Dame returned $2.40 and $2.10 to place. Baffle paid $3.40 to show.

A Vino Rosso filly owned by Jill Baffert, Bottle of Rouge improved her record to 6: 4-1-0 with $577,000 in career earnings. Somemunny to Love was scratched.