Rachel’s Valentina is 7-2 favorite for Kentucky Oaks

Now, he will try to win the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks early Friday evening at Churchill Downs with Parx-based Cathryn Sophia.

Weep No More is the 9-2 second choice along with Cathryn Sophia, who ran third behind her and Rachel’s Valentina in the Ashland on April 2 at Keeneland.

And Rachel’s Valentina went on to finish sixth in the Oaks with jockey John Velazquez in the saddle.

But she has her position by default, owing to the absence of the brilliant Songbird, who thrashed Rachel’s Valentina by almost six lengths when the pair met at Keeneland in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Land Over Sea ran on late and finished second for trainer Doug O’Neill and owner Reddam Racing.

That status is no longer in question after she closed strong Friday to win the 142nd Kentucky Oaks and fill voids for trainer John Servis and jockey Javier Castellano. However, this year Churchill held 13 races on the Oaks card, one more than last year. As soon as he did that, she just wheeled around and bit him in the stomach and threw him out of the stall. Though her only start over the Churchill dirt was a well-beaten eighth, that came in her career debut going seven furlongs over slop. Disappointingly, Rachel’s Valentina faded and failed to hit the board. And I tried to take advantage of a lot of speed in the race.

Other preps that produced Oaks starters include the April 9 Gazelle at Aqueduct, where Lewis Bay, Royal Obsession, and Mo d’Amour ran one-two-three; the April 9 Fantasy at Oaklawn, where Terra Promessa and Taxable went one-two for trainer Steve Asmussen; and the April 2 Gulfstream Oaks, where Go Maggie Go outran Paola Queen.

“It says the game is great”, Servis said.

The race started out with Terra Promessa setting the pace. She found her opening at the top of the stretch and overtook the fading Lewis Bay and pulled away to beat Land Over Sea with Lewis Bay third.

“The next thing on the radar for them is likely the Acorn ($700,000, one mile, GI) on Belmont Day (June 11)”, the trainer said.

After missing the cut for the Kentucky Oaks, odds-on favourite Carina Mia (Bill Mott/Julien Leparoux) gained a measure of compensation as she overpowered her rivals with a six-length win in this $200,000 event. Rachel’s Valentina chased her on the outside, and seemed to be in good position turning for home.

The daughter of Flatter finished ninth in Friday’s Kentucky Oaks (GI) after stalking the pacesetters midway into the homestretch turn.

Venus Valentine was far back all the way in the Oaks, finishing 12th, 13 3/4 lengths behind victor Cathryn Sophia. “She is eating better, and her coat looks better”.