The TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for Feb. 27

[Wandering Eyes]

The GIII Honeybee S., rescheduled for one day due to cold weather at Oaklawn, figured to be the key GI Kentucky Oaks prep run so far this year. And it was. Our No. 1 in previous polls Muhimma (Munnings) ran well to finish third, but it was not enough for her to keep her top spot. Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) was 10th and Look Forward (Bolt d'Oro) was seventh. Off those performances both have dropped out of the Top 10.

This will be a big weekend for Oaks-bound horses as they will sort themselves out in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Santa Ysabel S., the Busher S. and the GII Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale S.

Here's a look at the fourth installment of our Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for 2025:

1) GOOD CHEER (Medaglia d'Oro–Wedding Toast, by Street Sense) O/B-Godolphin (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 5-5-0-0, $637,630. Last Start: Won Feb. 15 GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra S. Kentucky Oaks Points 45. Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks., FG, Mar. 15.

Probably should have had this horse at No. 1 all along, but was equally high on her stablemate from the Brad Cox barn, Muhimma. With Muhimma failing to win the Honeybee, we've moved her to fourth and Good Cheer up to first. When it comes to Good Cheer, there's nothing not to like. She's five-for-five in her career and came back running in the Rachel Alexandra in what was her first start of the year. Some may want to downgrade her win in the Rachel Alexandra because it was just a four-horse field. But she exploded in the stretch after having to wait to find room. It's going to be hard to topple this one.

2) TENMA (Nyquist–Amagansett, by Tapit) O-Baoma Corp.; B-B Flay Thoroughbreds (Ky); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $200,000 yrl '23 KEESEP; $850,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-4-0-1, $429,000. Last Start: Won Feb. 2 GIII Fasig-Tipton Las Virgenes Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 33. Next Start: GII Santa Anita Oaks, SA, Apr. 5.

Trainer Bob Baffert will be represented Sunday in the Santa Ysabel at Santa Anita with a couple of interesting prospects. Cipriani (Bernardini) was second behind Tenma in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Las Virgenes and Maysam (Game Warrior) comes back in just two weeks after a stunningly poor effort in the Sunland Park Oaks. But it's hard to imagine either one turning out to be No. 1 in the Baffert barn. That spot belongs to Tenma. Last year, Baffert had some concerns about her maturity and did not run her in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. It looks like that was the right move as she's since won the GII Starlet S. and the Las Virgenes. Clearly the top 3-year-old filly in California.

3) QUIETSIDE (Malibu Moon–Benner Island, by Speightstown) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Shortleaf Stable (Ky); T-John Ortiz. Lifetime Record: GSW & MGISP, 6-2-3-1, $552,200. Last Start: Won Feb. 23 GIII Honeybee S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 68. Next Start: GII Fantasy S., OP, Mar. 29.

Quietside finally broke through. She had lost four straight after breaking her maiden, but they were all in stakes races and she was never worse than third in any of them. Facing the toughest field of 3-year-old fillies assembled so far this year in the Honeybee and drawing the 12 post, last Sunday's stakes at Oaklawn didn't look like the race where she would break her losing streak. But she was game in the stretch, winning a three-horse battle to the wire. “The filly came back in great shape,” said trainer John Ortiz. “She's happy, she's sound, she's eating all her meals and is as bright-eyed as she's always been. She showed us her true potential.”

4) MUHIMMA (Munnings–Princesa Carolina, by Tapit) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Shadwell Stable; B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Sales history: $700,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-0-1, $319,460. Last Start: Third Feb. 23 GIII Honeybee S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 25. Next Start: GI Ashland S., Kee, Apr. 4.

Usually on or near the lead, Muhimma stalked the leaders from third in the Honeybee. It turned out to be a perfect trip as she appeared to make a winning move on the far turn as eventual race-winner Quietside clung to the lead. But she ran out of gas in the stretch and wound up finishing third and losing by 4 1/2 lengths. Perhaps she needed the race and can rebound in the GI Ashland S., but the way she ran through the final sixteenth of the Honeybee was disappointing. Don't give up on her just yet, but an improved effort in her next start is a must.

5) LA CARA (Street Sense–Cara Caterina, by Bernardini) O/B-Tracy Farmer (Ky); T-Mark Casse. Lifetime Record: GSW, 7-3-1-0, $378,520. Last Start: Won Feb. 8 Suncoast Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 33. Next Start: GII Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 1.

The Davona Dale will be a good test for this Mark Casse-trained runner. She looked to be in over her head when a distant fifth in the Juvenile Fillies, but came roaring back to win the Suncoast at Tampa Bay Downs by 6 1/4 lengths. Casse wheels her right back in three weeks to go in the Davona Dale. The seven-horse race did not come up that tough, but a win would solidify her position as the top 3-year-old filly in Florida. It will be interesting to see what kind of trip she will get. She's won on the front end and she's won coming from as far back as seventh.

6) FIVE G (Vekoma–Triumphant, by Quality Road) O/B-Gatsas Stables (NY); T-George Weaver. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP, 5-2-2-0, $240,290. Last Start: Second Feb. 23 GIII Honeybee S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 25. Next Start: TBD.

Though beaten a length by Quietside, the George Weaver-trained filly turned in a big performance when second in the Honeybee to prove that she is among the upper echelon of 3-year-old fillies. She drew the 13 post in what was her first try around two turns on the dirt and nearly pulled it off. The post was not a problem as Irad Ortiz, Jr. had her on the rail and on the lead on both turns. Weaver reports that the filly came out of the race in good order and said the Ashland, the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and the Fantasy are all options for her next start.

7) BALLERINA D'ORO (Medaglia d'Oro–In the Moonlight, by Tapit) O-Rodeo Creek Racing, LLC; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Chad Brown. Sales history: $320,000 yrl '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 4-1-1-0, $156,975. Last Start: Second Dec. 7 GII Demoiselle S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 5. Next Start: GII Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 1.

After being scratched from the GII Rachel Alexandra S., the late-running filly re-emerges for the Davona Dale. After three grass starts, trainer Chad Brown switched her to the dirt and she responded with a big second-place effort in the GII Demoiselle S. Her problem is that she comes from far back early and the Davona Dale is a one-turn mile. No one should be discouraged if she doesn't win because this is exactly the type of race that should sharpen her up for better efforts down the road in longer, two-turn races. Tyler Gaffalione will ride as Dylan Davis opts for La Cara.

8) RUNNING AWAY (Gun Runner–Allez Marie, by Unbridled's Song) O/B-Stud TNT (Ky); T-Wesley Ward. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-1-1, $166,875. Last Start: Won Jan. 18 Busanda Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GI Ashland Stakes, Kee, Apr. 4.

It's going to be a while before we know if this horse is the real deal or not as trainer Wesley Ward has decided to skip this weekend's round of Oaks preps and wait for the Ashland at Keeneland. She has not had an official work since her win in the Jan. 18 Busanda at Aqueduct.

9) RUNNIN N GUNNIN (Gun Runner–Charity Belle, by Empire Maker) O-Douglas Scharbauer; B-Dixiana Farms, LLC (Ky); T-Steve Asmussen. Sales history: $250,000 yrl '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 6-3-0-0, $193,940. Last Start: Won Feb. 16 Sunland Park Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: TBD.

The best thing this filly has going for is that she is trained by Steve Asmussen. But she's going to have to improve many lengths after winning the Sunland Park Oaks against a very weak field. There were three maidens in the seven-horse race.

10) WHITE ROCKS (Frosted–Kitten's Catch, by Kitten's Joy) O-Jastar Capital Ltd., Polivka Equine Holdings LLC & Timothy Madden; B-Sandra Sexton & Silver Fern Farm (Ky); T-Arnaud Delacour. Sales history: $35,000 yrl '23 KEESEP; $180,000 2yo '24 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-1-0, $166,354. Last Start: Won Feb. 21 Cincinnati Trophy S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: TBD.

An interesting new face on our Top 10 list, White Rocks moved into 10th position after winning last week's Cincinnati Trophy S. at Turfway Park. A $180,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in 2024, she is three-for-three and her weapon is her early speed. In the Turfway race she led by as many as eight lengths down the backstretch. The question is how will she handle dirt after having made all three of her starts on the Tapeta surface at Turfway? Trainer Arnaud Delacour said she will make her next start in either the Ashland on the dirt at Keeneland or go back to the synthetic surface for the Bourbonette at Turfway.

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