Still no standout in Road to the Kentucky Oaks

The Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) kicked off 2017 in the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park and two other contests quickly followed.

Each race awarded points on a 10-4-2-1 basis to the top four finishers, good for a starting berth in the May 5 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. Last year saw an assortment of fillies earn their spot on the Oaks Leaderboard, and 2017 has continued that trend thus far.

The Santa Ynez featured a field of five going seven furlongs on January 8, and a three-filly battle developed up front when the gates opened. Resilient Humor, Shane’s Girlfriend and Princess Karen lined up across the track while Unique Bella tracked just behind and to the outside of the trio.

Resilient Humor led the way on the inside until Unique Bella under jockey Mike Smith ranged up four wide entering the turn to take command. Fellow Jerry Hollendorfer trainee It Tiz Well followed but was no match for her stablemate, who drew off under her own power to be 7 1/2 lengths clear on the wire.

The Santa Ynez marked Unique Bella’s stakes debut after the gray Tapit filly broke her maiden by 10 lengths in her second outing. She earned a 93 BRIS Speed rating for that score and could be poised to pick up the three-year-old filly baton from another Hollendorfer pupil – Songbird.

Unique Bella towered over her rivals in the Santa Ynez, not just in talent but in size as well. The massive filly will have to prove herself at a distance, and she could get the chance next out in the one-mile Las Virgenes Stakes (G2) on February 5.

On January 15, one week after the Santa Ynez, another small field of five lined up in the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct. This particular contest was a mile and 70 yards on the inner dirt.

Libby’s Tail led the way while pressed by Lockdown the entire way down on the backstretch. Lockdown drew even entering the turn before pulling off upon hitting the stretch. Libby’s Tail wasn’t done, though, and re-rallied while drifting a bit, but could not catch Lockdown, who kicked it up a notch to be 2 1/2 lengths clear on the wire.

Libby’s Tail ran well in defeat, but Lockdown never truly looked threatened. The one time Libby’s Tail got close the Bill Mott trainee merely opened up again. Like Unique Bella, Lockdown made her stakes debut in this spot after breaking her maiden in her second outing. The First Defense filly earned a 91 BRIS Speed rating.

Lockdown’s next opportunity to earn Kentucky Oaks points at Aqueduct comes in the February 25 Busher Stakes.