First Look: 12 graded stakes on Ky. Derby, Oaks undercards

It's showtime at Churchill Downs next weekend with the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

With the glamor of those premier races, it's easy to overlook the undercards. But they feature 12 graded stakes with rich purses and plenty of talented runners.

Those races will be drawn on Monday, so this Friday edition of First Look takes offers a preview of the likely fields. A regular First Look, previewing next weekend's other graded stakes, will be posted on Monday.

Friday

$850,000 La Troienne (G1), 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Shedaresthedevil came back from her sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Distaff to finish third in the Azeri (G2) after getting outdueled in the stretch. Temper Time tries her first graded stakes after allowance wins at Keeneland and Turfway.

$500,000 Alysheba (G2), 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Happy Saver has hit the board in all eight of his starts but is looking for his first win since an allowance in May. Fulsome took a break after finishing fourth in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) and came back to win the Oaklawn Mile (G3) on April 2. Weyburn took a similar approach: He was eighth in the Pennsylvania Derby and won the Sir Shackleton on April 2.

$500,000 Edgewood (G2), 1 1/16 miles (turf), 3-year-old fillies

Since winning the Golden Rod (G2) in November, Dream Lith finished fifth in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and sixth in the Fantasy (G3). Beechnut Trophy broke her maiden in March and then finished third in the listed Sanibel Island last out.

$500,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2), 5 1/2 furlongs (turf), 3-year-olds and up

Johnny Unleashed and Diamond Oops ran into Golden Pal in the Shakertown (G2) and they finished second and fourth, respectively. After putting together a 5: 3-1-1 record last year, Chasing Artie took nine months off and came back April 1 with an allowance win at Gulfstream.

$500,000 Eight Belles (G2), seven furlongs, 3-year-old fillies

Marissa's Lady is 5-for-6 and the one loss was a runner-up effort in a black-type stakes at Turfway. After winning both of her starts last year, Ain't Easy has finished third in the Santa Ysabel (G3) and Santa Anita Oaks (G2) this year.

$250,000 Modesty (G3), 1 1/8 miles (turf), fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Crystal Cliffs has finished in the money in all seven career starts. Her win in the Sand Springs last out came after a 10-month layoff. She Can't Sing won the listed Tom Benson Memorial last out for her second consecutive victory.

Saturday

$1 million Turf Classic (G1), 1 1/8 miles (turf), 4-year-olds and up

Ivar is looking for his first win since the Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland in 2020. Santin is looking for his first graded-stakes win after hitting the board in the Hollywood Derby (G1), Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) and Muniz Memorial (G2).

$750,000 Churchill Downs (G1), 7 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up

Aloha West looks to build on a remarkable 2021; his first year racing was capped off by a win in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Jackie's Warrior was sixth in that race but came back to win the Count Fleet (G3) on April 13.

$750,000 Derby City Distaff (G1), 7 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Obligatory finished last year with a win in the Chilukki (G3) and started this year by winning the Hurricane Bertie (G3). Bell's the One rallied to finish second in the Madison (G1) in her first start of the year, with Four Graces and Center Aisle farther behind.

$500,000 Pat Day Mile (G2), 1 mile, 3-year-olds

Some of these candidates were on the Kentucky Derby trail, including Pappacap, who was eighth in the Risen Star (G2) and then fourth in the Florida Derby (G1). Jack Christopher was 2-for-2 last year and would make the first start of the year here. Newgrange and Doppelganger were Bob Baffert trainees now under the care of Tim Yakteen.

$500,000 Distaff Turf Mile (G2), 1 mile (turf) fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Mona Stella is looking for her first win of the year after finishing third in an allowance at Gulfstream and a black-type race at Tampa Bay. Wakanaka raced in Italy for two years before moving to the U.S. and finishing sixth in the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G3) and then second in the Honey Fox (G3).

$500,000 American Turf (G2), 1 1/16 miles (turf), 3-year-olds

Grand Sonata started the year by winning a listed stakes and the Kitten's Joy (G3) at Gulfstream, followed by a second-place finish in the Transylvania (G3). After a runner-up effort in the John Battaglia, Stolen Base tried the Jeff Ruby (G3) and finished seventh.