Don Alberto Stable's Unique Bella (Tapit) topped a list of 109 fillies nominated for the 142nd $1 million GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, it was announced Monday. The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained 'TDN Rising Star' won the Jan. 8 GII Santa Ynez S. and Feb. 5 GII Las Virgenes S. in authoritative fashion, contributing to her current status as the even-money favorite for the May 5 fixture at Churchill Downs when the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager closed Sunday evening.
Other notable nominations for the Oaks include GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Champagne Room (Broken Vow) and MGSW Farrell (Malibu Moon)–winner of Saturday's GII Rachel Alexandra S. at the Fair Grounds and current Oaks qualifying points topper.
In addition to Unique Bella, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer also nominated fellow 'TDN Rising Star' and Santa Ynez runner-up It Tiz Well (Arch). Other 'Rising Stars' included in the nominations are Ever So Clever (Medaglia d'Oro), American Cleopatra (Pioneerof the Nile), Noted and Quoted (The Factor), Aspen Hilltop (Bernardini), Life's Blessings (Tapit), Sweeping Paddy (Paddy O'Prado), Cursor (Quality Road), Valadorna (Curlin), Untapped (Tapit), Elate (Medaglia d'Oro), Jenda's Agenda (Proud Citizen), and Selcourt (Tiz Wonderful).
The late nomination phase for the Kentucky Oaks is underway and continues through Saturday, Apr. 15. It requires payment of a $1,500 late fee to make a filly Oaks-eligible. After that date, owners will have a final opportunity to make their fillies eligible for the Oaks through a $30,000 supplemental nomination required at the race's time of entry on Tuesday, May 2.
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