By Ben Massam
The GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks has been an extremely productive prep race for the GI Kentucky Oaks over the years, with four of its last 10 winners going on to score on the first Friday in May, and Coffeepot Stables' Farrell (Malibu Moon) looms as the heavy favorite to capture Saturday's renewal of the race on her path to Churchill Downs. An authoritative winner of the Jan. 21 Silverbulletday S. and Feb. 25 GII Rachel Alexandra S. [video], the Wayne Catalano trainee seeks to follow in the footsteps of MGISW I'm a Chatterbox (Munnings) as the second filly in three years to sweep the local series of Kentucky Oaks preps. Farrell–who previously achieved Grade II success in last November's Golden Rod S.–is a confirmed front runner and figures to have a target on her back once again as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the Oaks.
Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch's Daria's Angel (Gemologist) could complicate things for Farrell, entering Saturday's tilt off a dominant wire-to-wire score in a maiden event traveling a mile and seventy yards in New Orleans Feb. 18. Jockey Robby Albarado will have an interesting tactical decision to make leaving the stalls, with the dark bay drawn to the inside of the imposing favorite.
Calumet Farm's Vexatious (Giant's Causeway), one of two runners shipping in from Southern California, could take a major step forward if a contested pace materializes. The full-sister to GISW Creative Cause and MGSW & GISP Destin recently raced in heavy traffic and rallied to complete the trifecta behind the highly regarded pair of 'TDN Rising Star' Battle of Midway (Smart Strike) and Reach the World (Tapit) in an optional claimer at Santa Anita Mar. 9 [click here for more].
“She's an improving filly,” trainer Neil Drysdale said. “I liked her race the other day against the colts a lot. She got into trouble and still was able to come home well down the lane.”
Majestic Quality (Quality Road) returns to the Fair Grounds from Santa Anita after checking in second behind Farrell in the Rachel Alexandra. The eight-race maiden does her best running from off the pace and is likely to secure a ground-saving trip from her inside draw.
Gary Barber and Bobby Flay privately purchased Corporate Queen (Colonel John) following a decisive debut victory at Laurel in January, and the gray closed strongly to report home second behind unbeaten GII Gulfstream Park Oaks entrant Nonna Bella (Stay Thirsty) in a seven-panel optional claimer in Hallandale Beach Mar. 10. Making her first start around two turns Saturday, Corporate Queen competes for the ever-dangerous pair of trainer Mark Casse and jockey Florent Geroux.
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