Kentucky Oaks anticipation
In the last few years, horses such as Proud Spell, Rags to Riches, Lemons Forever, Summerly, Ashado, Bird Town, Farda Amiga, Flute and Secret Status have carved their names into the history books of the Kentucky Oaks, and this year there will be another contender field filled with talented horses, trying to do the same. Anticipation surrounding the Kentucky Oaks is already starting to build, with horses being confirmed for the event and punters speculating over who has the best chance to win.
In 1875, the inaugural Kentucky Oaks was run at the Louisville Jockey Club, which would later become known as Churchill Downs Racecourse. A beautiful garland of lilies and a purse of $500 000 waits for the winner of this Grade 1 horse racing event for three year old fillies and a top ten has already been revealed in regard to this years’ race. The top ten predictions for this year is Racheal Alexandra, Justwhistledixie, Stardom Bound, Just Jenda, Flying Spur, Nan, Persistently, Elusive Heat, Laragh and Haka; and so far Laragh, Justwhistledixie, Stardom Bound, Just Jenda and Rachel Alexandra have provisionally confirmed their presence at the 2009 Kentucky Derby.
All five horses, that are provisionally confirmed for the Kentucky Oaks so far, have performed brilliantly in their most recent horse racing events, but many speculate that Stardom Bound and Rachel Alexandra will be the two horses that will end up battling for supremacy. Stardom Bound, had a tremendously successful two year old campaign, and shined in her last two career starts, but it is still felt that she is not quite ready to take on the boys yet, and has therefore been moved towards the Kentucky Oaks. Under the guidance of Hal Wiggins, Rachel Alexandra has won her last three starts and her presence at the Oaks is a strong possibility, but the Kentucky Derby still remains an option, depending on her performance on 5 April 2009 at the Fantasy Stakes. In March, Justwhistledixie won her first graded stakes race and many are looking towards her to be the horse who will create upset on race day.
The Kentucky Oaks will be hosted at Churchill Downs on 1 May 2009, in Louisville, with the Kentucky Derby taking place on the 2nd of May 2009. It is going to be a weekend packed with breathtaking horse racing action.
