Shesharesthedevil pulled off the upset in Friday’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. (Photo credit: Churchill Downs / Coady Photography).
Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing Stables and Big Aut Farms’ Shedaresthesdevil pushed past heavy favorite Gamine at the eighth pole and then held off a bid from Swiss Skydiver by 1 ½ lengths to win the 146th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Shedaresthedevil covered the 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:48.28. The victory was the second for the Cox-Geroux tandem who triumphed in 2018 with Monomoy Girl.
As expected, Gamine set the pace, leading the field of nine through fractions of :23.39, :47.92 and 1:12.12 with Shedaresthedevil in closest pursuit to her outside and Swiss Skydiver tracking third on the inside.
At the head of the lane, Shedaresthedevil drew alongside Gamine and gradually eased by as Swiss Skydiver moved to the outside for one final surge that came up short.
“This is why you wake up every morning to get to win races like this,” Cox said. “This filly has been really impressive coming into the race and when she breezed with Monomoy Girl a couple weeks ago, we knew how well she was training. There were some tough fillies in the Oaks this year with Swiss Skydiver and Gamine. We are so thrilled to win a race like this, again, in our backyard. This has been a phenomenal day with Monomoy Girl winning the La Troienne then winning the Oaks with Shedaresthedevil. These are the days you dream of.”
Kentucky Oaks Replay
Shedaresthedevil is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Daredevil out of the Congrats mare Starship Warpspeed. The winner’s share of $744,000 boosted Shedaresthedevil’s earnings to $1,245,768 with a record of 10-5-2-2.
The victory was her third in a row and third graded stakes victory.
Shedaresthedevil returned $32.20, $8.40 and $3.80. Swiss Skydiver, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $3.80 and $2.60 and finished 1 ½ lengths in front of Gamine who paid $2.40 to show under John Velazquez.
It was another 5 ¾ lengths back to Speech who was followed in order by Tempers Rising, Hopeful Growth, Bayerness, Donna Veloce and Dream Marie.
Monomoy Girl Takes La Troienne
Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables’ Monomoy Girl, the champion female runner of 2018, continued to show her brilliance as she cruised to a 1 ¾-length victory over pacesetting Lady Kate in the 35th running of the $500,000 La Troienne Presented by Oak Grove Racing & Gaming (GI) for fillies and mares.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Monomoy Girl covered the mile and a sixteenth on a fast main track in 1:42.14.
Winner of the Kentucky Oaks (GI) and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) during her championship campaign in 2018, Monomoy Girl notched the sixth Grade I victory of her career and boosted her career bankroll to $3,386,818 with Friday’s winner’s share of $300,700.
Lady Kate shot out to an early lead and was quickly joined by Risky Mandate as Monomoy Girl was pushed four wide going into the first turn. On the backstretch, Monomoy Girl settled into third while racing in the clear as Lady Kate produced fractions of :23.43, :46.26 and 1:10.48.
On the far turn, Monomoy Girl began to close in on the leaders and by the eighth pole had collared Lady Kate and drew off to the victory.
Now sporting a record of 14-12-2-0, Monomoy Girl is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Tapizar out of the Henny Hughes mare Drumette.
La Troienne Replay
Monomoy Girl returned $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Lady Kate, ridden by Javier Castellano, returned $7.60 and $4.20 and finished 2 ¾ lengths in front of Horologist who paid $3.40 to show under John Velazquez.
It was another two lengths back to Saracosa who was followed in order by Vexatious, She’s a Julie, With Dignity and Risky Mandate.
By My Standards Wins Alysheba
Allied Racing Stable’s By My Standards forged to the front in upper stretch and pulled away to post a 1 ¾-length victory over Owendale to win the 17th running of the $400,000 Alysheba presented by Sentient Jet (GII) for 4-year-olds and up.
Trained by Bret Calhoun and ridden by Gabriel Saez, By My Standards covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.24.
By My Standards tracked a leisurely pace of :25.71 and :49.93 set by Mr Freeze and moved at the leader along with Owendale at the top of the stretch. By My Standards took over quickly, repulsed a bid from Owendale and drew off to notch his fourth Grade II victory.
The victory was worth $245,520 and increased By My Standards’ earnings to $1,764,430 record of 12-6-4-1. By My Standards is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Goldencents out of the Muqtarib mare A Jealous Woman.
By My Standards returned $5, $3 and $2.40. Owendale, ridden by Florent Geroux, returned $6 and $4 and finished a head in front of Silver Dust who paid $3.80 to show under Adam Beschizza.
It was another three-quarters of a length back to defending champion McKinzie with Title Ready and Mr Freeze completing the order of finish.
Sharing Dominant in Edgewood
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gainesway Stable’s Sharing grabbed the lead in upper stretch and fended off a late bid by Hendy Woods to score by 1 ¼ lengths in the 36th running of the $300,000 Edgewood Presented by Forcht Bank (GII) for 3-year-old fillies.
Trained by Graham Motion and ridden by Manny Franco, Sharing covered the mile on a Matt Winn Turf Course rated as good in 1:36.87.
With the winner’s share of $182,280, Sharing increased her earnings to $1,038,751 with a record of 7-5-1-1. It is the second graded stakes victory for Sharing who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GI) at Santa Anita.
Sharing is a Maryland-bred daughter of Speightstown out of the Pleasantly Perfect mare Shared Account.
Sharing returned $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10. Hendy Woods, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $3.40 and $2.60 and finished 2 ½ lengths in front of Lucky Betty who paid $3.60 to show under Declan Cannon.
It was another length back to In Good Spirits who was followed in order by Pranked, Walk In Marrakesh (IRE) and Mariafoot (FR).
