Farrell brings a three-stakes winning streak into Fair Grounds Oaks

As much as Brad Grady’s Girvin could become the star of the show with another big performance in the day’s main event, the Grade II $1,000,000 TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby, the brightest established star on the card is arguably Coffeepot Stables’ homebred 3-year-old filly Farrell. A beautifully bred daughter of Malibu Moon and half-sister to two Grade I winners — Carpe Diem and J. B.’s Thunder — the Wayne Catalano trainee is riding a three-stakes winning streak, including a pair of Grade II events. 

 

Farrell is the standout favorite in the Grade II $400,000 Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks, a race that has been key to preparation for the Grade I Longines Kentucky Oaks, producing six winners since the turn of the century. Last out, Farrell wired a field of seven in the Grade II Rachel Alexandra by a geared-down 3½ lengths under Channing Hill. 

 

Since said effort, the four-time winner from six starts has three works, including a bullet-of-54 five-furlong breeze in 1:00 flat on Mar. 18. The majority of her works in 2017 have come under jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr. 

 

“She’s been working very well and been working very easily,” Catalano said. “Valdivia has been very happy with her, especially with her last couple works. We’re confident going into the race.

 

“Once you get them like we have them now you try to maintain them all the way through and keep them happy and going forward,” Catalano continued. “There’s no question she’ll be forwardly placed.” 

 

Catalano is hopeful that a good performance, preferably a third Grade II triumph, sets his charge up to ideally peak in the Kentucky Oaks on May 5. 

 

Dismiss Hall of Fame nominee trainer Mark Casse at your own risk in any graded stakes. The affable conditioner sends out Gary Barber and Bobby Flay’s attractive gray filly and recent private purchase Corporate Queen up against heavyweight Farrell in Saturday’s Grade II $400,000 TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. The daughter of Colonel John will be ridden by meet-leading jockey Florent Geroux.

 

“The thing I like about her is that she was so impressive in her first start and her trainer then, Tim Keefe said that she was only about 80% ready at that point,” Casse said. “When we got her we saw room for improvement from a fitness standpoint. She trains extremely well and I really liked her race last time.”

 

In her first and only start for Casse, Corporate Queen closed from four lengths back in a seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream Park and lost by a diminishing length at the wire to well-regarded Todd Pletcher trainee Nonna Bella. She now makes her first start at two turns and beyond said trip in the 1 1/16-miles Oaks.

 

“Gulfstream is never an easy place to win and it’s even tougher when you come from off the pace, Casse continued. “Todd holds his filly in high regard and I think given another 20 or 30 yards, we may have got her. I think two turns will be her forte.”

 

 

Big Chief Racing et al.’s Majestic Quality, a solid second last out in the Grade II Rachel Alexandra Stakes behind local 3-year-old filly divisional leader Farrell, did not make the trip to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for the Grade II $400,000 TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. According to trainer Keith Desormeaux, the daughter of Quality Road will be pointed to the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks next weekend.