Ky. Oaks prep: Stilettos tries to step up as Pocahontas favorite

Undefeated Texas-bred filly Stilettos will attempt to win her third career race as the 4-1 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Pocahontas Stakes, the kickoff of the road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Bret Calhoun for owner Collinsworth Thoroughbred Racing, Stilettos dominated her five-furlong debut at Lone Star Park, winning by an eye-catching 16 3/4 lengths. Following that start, Calhoun shipped the daughter of Upstart to his string at Churchill Downs and six weeks later she gamely defeated seven rivals in the Ellis Park Debutante.

“She just dominated her competition in Texas, but you’re never really sure of the caliber of horses she faced there, so we decided to ship her here for the Debutante at Ellis,” Calhoun said. “It was a big step up, but we were optimistic about her chances against those fillies. I thought it was a very impressive race on her part. It looked like she was going to win that race like her debut, but I think she got a little tired, a little green, and a little lost. That race should move her forward. I don’t think she got a lot out of her debut, but she got a little tired on us in the Debutante.”

Stilettos has won both of her starts in gate-to-wire fashion but Calhoun believes she can be more versatile.

“We never intended to be on the lead in the Debutante,” Calhoun said. “Watching the race, you could tell Brian (Hernandez Jr.) was trying to sit, but the horse to her inside wanted the lead and couldn’t get there. She just took us to the front. I’m going to leave it up to Jose (Ortiz) in the Pocahontas. There’s a lot of speed in the race, as these juveniles often show early in the year. Most of them have won on or close to the lead. It’ll be interesting how things play out down the backside, but I’ve got a pretty good rider to figure that out.”

Stilettos will break from post 12.

The Pocahontas drew an over-subscribed field of 14 2-year-old fillies plus two also-eligibles. The fillies will head to post in race 8 with a post time of 4:25 p.m. EDT. The first of 11 races will get underway at 12:45 p.m. EDT.

The Pocahontas will award the top five finishers qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale for a spot in the starting gate for the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Friday, May 2 at Churchill Downs.