Virginia Oaks: Draw, odds, preview of new Ky. Oaks qualfier

Exiting a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds, Gowells Delight was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the $250,000 Virginia Oaks on Saturday at Colonial Downs.

 

The co-feature of a special three-day meet beginning Thursday, the one-turn, 1 1/16-mile Virginia Oaks will be held the same day as the $500,000 Virginia Derby. The winning horse in each race will receive 50 points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1) or Kentucky Derby. The second- through fifth-place finishers will earn 25-15-10-5 points.

 

 

Debuting at two turns in December at Fair Grounds, Gowells Delight beat seven rivals by 5 1/2 lengths. Trainer Kenny McPeek threw the daughter of Practical Joke into deep water for her encore, where she ran a troubled fourth in the Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park. After showing a new dimension when setting the pace in last month’s Rachel Alexandra, Gowells Delight proved no match for undefeated Good Cheer, but with her runner-up finish, she boosted her Oaks qualifying points to 16 1/2. One of the two entered in the local Oaks by McPeek, Fern Circle Stables’ Gowells Delight drew post 3 and will be piloted by Brian Hernandez Jr.

 

Drawing to the immediate outside of her stablemate, two-time winner Anonima will ship to New Kent fresh off her first stakes try, when she ran sixth to Quietside in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn. Installed at 6-1 on the morning line, Anonima will receive the services of Colby Hernandez.

 

Although she has started only once, Fondly won her debut in style on Valentine’s Day at Tampa Bay Downs for trainer Graham Motion. Demonstrating her push-button potential when overcoming two spots of trouble, the Upstart filly won going away and earned an 84 Brisnet Speed Rating. Fondly was tabbed as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line and will break from the far outside post under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

 

Sent off as the favorite last out in the Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway Park, Girl Math managed to run only fifth across the Tapeta surface where she broke her maiden the start prior. With three second-place finishes on main track at Churchill Downs on her resume, the Rodolphe Brisset trainee will return to the dirt for the Virginia Oaks and reunite with jockey Luan Machado, who was aboard for her maiden score. Set at 5-1 on the morning line, the daughter of McKinzie drew post 7.

 

Looking the part in her first try going two turns, Early On exits a 5 1/4-length maiden score at Gulfstream Park for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Flavien Prat, the 2024 Eclipse Award-winning jockey, was named to ride the Union Rags filly, who drew post 5 and was made 8-1 in the program.

The Virginia Oaks is scheduled as race 8 on Saturday at 4:25 p.m. EDT followed at 5:10 p.m. by the Virginia Derby. The first post for the 10-race card is at noon.