Rachel’s Valentina 7-2 Oaks Favorite

Stonestreet Stables’ homebred Rachel’s Valentina, out of 2009 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra, was made the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks at the post position draw May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Winner of last year’s Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) and second, beaten a neck in the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I) in her 2016 debut, Rachel’s Valentina drew post 11 of 14 entrants and will be ridden by John Velazquez for trainer Todd Pletcher.

With 2-year-old filly champion Songbird out of contention due to spiking a fever a few weeks ago, 15 fillies were entered for the Oaks. Dothraki Queen is on the also-eligible list. Scratch time is race day at 9 a.m.

The Oaks, worth $1 million, will be run at 1 1/8 miles, and goes as race 11 on the program. The post time is 5:49 p.m. EDT, and the race will be televised on NBCSN.

Co-second choices at 9-2 are Weep No More, winner of the Ashland, and Cathryn Sophia, who finished third in the Ashland.

At 5-1 on the morning line is Reddam Racing’s Land Over Sea. TheBellamy Road   filly finished second to Songbird in five consecutive starts before taking the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) last time out in New Orleans.

Rachel’s Valentina, by Bernardini  , is one of two in the field trained by Pletcher, who will also send out King of Prussia Stable’s Mo d’Amour. Pletcher has three Oaks wins to his long list of accomplishments and has sent out Ashado (2004; with Velazquez up), Rags to Riches (2007), and Princess of Sylmar (2014; for King of Prussia Stable).

Rachel Alexandra won the Oaks by 20 1/4 lengths, and later won the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (gr. I), Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I), and Woodward Stakes (gr. I) on her way to Horse of the Year honors. Rachel’s Valentina is her second foal.

Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet operation will also be represented by Honeybee and Fantasy (both gr. III) winner Terra Promessa, and Royal Obsession. Both are trained by Steve Asmussen.

For more on Banke and her Oaks fillies, click here

Asmussen, along with Rachel Alexandra, will be inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame later this year and the trainer has two Oaks wins to his credit, having saddled Summerly in 2005 and Untapable in 2014.

Asmussen is also the trainer of Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Taxable, who was second in the Fantasy in just her third start.

Cathryn Sophia won her first four starts by a combined 40 1/2 lengths with wins at Gulfstream Park in the seven-furlong Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) and one-mile Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II). She was the 1-2 favorite in the Ashland, and battled early with Rachel’s Valentina before missing late by a half-length. Trainer John Servis had made no secret that he would not be running in the Oaks had Songbird remained in the field, but with her absence, and the training and condition of Cathryn Sophia, he’s taking a shot.

“I’m happy with where she’s at,” he said. “As far as post position, she’s pretty tactical; she can put herself in the race pretty easy, so I was going to be comfortable wherever she drew.

“I think she’s going forward,” he said. “I don’t know if she’s getting better or she’s just mad she got beat.

“I’m a little concerned about the mile and an eighth with her. As good as she ran in the Ashland, and especially with Songbird being out, I think she definitely deserves a chance.

Ashbrook Farm’s Weep No More (Mineshaft  –Crosswinds, by A.P. Indy) came to hand earlier this year in Florida, breaking her maiden in the one-mile, 40-yard Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs prior to upending the Ashland at 30-1 under Corey Lanerie. She is trained by Rusty Arnold.

“It seems to me there is some early speed and some that want to press the pace, so I think the field is going to be spread out going to the first turn, so for us post position wasn’t really that much of a concern,” said Bo Bromagen of Ashbrook.

Land Over Sea has won two of the three races in which she has not faced Songbird. Following her win in the Fair Grounds Oaks she was shipped to Keeneland where she was stabled with Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorite Nyquist.

“She won that race at Fair Grounds (March 26 Fair Grounds Oaks, gr. II) and she’s really thrived since then,” said O’Neill. “Like Nyquist, she really loved Keeneland. She’s a filly at times we’ve struggled to keep good weight on, but now her weight is as good as it’s ever been. We’re optimistic she’s going to run a big race…especially with Songbird out. It’s opened up the field for a lot of people.”

At 8-1 on the morning line is Alpha Delta Stables’ Lewis Bay, a decisive winner of the Gazelle Stakes (gr. II) April 9 at Aqueduct. The homebred daughter of Bernardini–Summer Raven, by Summer Squall, is trained by Chad Brown. Lewis Bay was second behind Cathryn Sophia in the Davona Dale, but topped Oaks runners Royal Obsession and Mo d’Amour in New York earning a 99 Equibase Speed Figure, the highest last out number in the line-up.

PP – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – ML

1 – Terra Promessa – Steve Asmussen – R. Santana Jr. – 10-1

2 – Weep No More – Rusty Arnold – Corey Lanerie – 9-2

3 – Lewis Bay – Chad Brown – I. Ortiz Jr. – 8-1

4 – Go Maggie Go – Dale Romans – L. Saez – 12-1

5- Dream Dance – Neil Howard – B. Hernandez – 30-1

6 – Mokat – Richard Baltas – F. Prat – 20-1

7 – Mo d’Amour – Todd Pletcher – J. Rosario – 30-1

8 – Royal Obsession – Steve Asmussen – F. Geroux – 30-1

9 – Paola Queen – Gustavo Delgado – J. Caramillo – 30-1

10 – Venus Valentine – Tom Amoss – S. Bridgmohan – 30-1

11 – Rachel’s Valentinia – Todd Pletcher – J. Velazquez – 7-2

12 – Cathryn Sophia – John Servis – J. Castellano – 9-2

13 – Land Over Sea – Doug O’Neill – M. Guiterrez – 5-1

14 – Taxable – Todd Pletcher – Mike Smith – 20-1

AE – Dothraki Queen – Ken McPeek – G. Stevens – 30-1