Mucciolo: How I am playing the Kentucky Oaks

A superb field of 14 three-year-old fillies will vie in Friday’s centerpiece at Churchill Downs, the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1). The star-studded cast has quality throughout the field in a race that can go a number of different ways. My wagers will be centered around a pair of strong contenders -- Rachel Alexandra S. (G2) queen #3 Clairiere (5-1) and Ashland S. (G1) heroine #10 Malathaat (5-2).

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Clairiere is out of one of my favorite runners in recent times, Cavorting, and has been first or second in each of her quartet of lifetime tries. The late-running Curlin filly will be at the mercy of the pace to some extent, but I loved her prep race and also the fact that she has run well on two prior occasions beneath the Twin Spires.

The Stonestreet homebred will improve off her latest performance and figures to thrive with the move to nine furlongs. Tyler Gaffalione will be in the stirrups atop the talented filly.

Malathaat, conditioned by Todd Pletcher, is unbeaten from four lifetime affairs and was especially game off the layoff in a fine score at Keeneland last time out. Also by Curlin, the Shadwell colorbearer has won from on the lead or when rallying from off the pace, and I feel that the post position that she was assigned matches her running style, as well.

On a sentimental note, I will be rooting for her due to the recent passing of Shadwell’s iconic Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum. It would seem fitting to have the famed blue and white colors in the winner’s circle following the Oaks.

Ashland S. (G1) runner-up #5 Pass the Champagne (15-1), Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) vixen #6 Travel Column (3-1), Santa Anita Oaks (G2) third #8 Moraz (30-1), and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) victress #4 Crazy Beautiful (15-1) are the fillies that I will be including in my vertical plays. In a race where the early pace figures to be a sensible one, having forwardly placed runners in the top three is a logical move.

Kentucky Oaks Wagers

• 50-cent trifecta: 3,10 with 3,4,5,6,8,10 with all ($60)
• 20-superfecta: 3,10 with 3,10 with 4,5,6,8 with all ($17.60)
• 20-cent superfecta: 3,10 with 4,5,6,8 with 3,10 with all ($17.60)

Good luck!