Look Forward Looks East, Conquers the Eight Belles as Severe Weather Delays Oaks Card

[Wandering Eyes]

Taking her game on the road and gradually coming east since starting her season in January, California invader Look Forward (Bolt d'Oro–Troublesome, by Into Mischief) set her sights on Churchill Downs on the first Friday in May and took home top prize in the GII Eight Belles Stakes right before racing was interrupted for a severe weather delay.

With a menacing patch of storms bearing down on Churchill, the race was on to get the field out and over the track in advance of the forecasted heavy rain and winds. They just managed to complete the race when the worst of it rolled onto the grounds, whisking papers onto the track as Mother Nature joined the sea of pink in Louisville. Post times for the following GIII Unbridled Sidney Stakes and GI Kentucky Oaks were moved back as a result.

Bearing the colors of GI Kentucky Derby hero I'll Have Another (Flower Alley) beneath the same Twin Spires that saw him claim the nation's top prize 13 years ago, and ridden by the man who will sit atop the expected favorite in Saturday's 151st running, Look Forward entered this race off a fading sixth-place finish Apr. 7 in the GI Ashland Stakes. It was her second consecutive poor break as she bobbled at the jump two back Feb. 23 in the GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn that Kentucky Oaks runner 'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) claimed en route to her date with the lilies.

Sent off here at 7-1 odds, Look Forward was close to the action in third behind fractions of :21.92, a half in :44.17, and swung into the lane after six furlongs in 1:08.80 with an open advantage having taken command nearing the furlong marker after navigating through traffic. Holding firm in the final strides, it was 1 1/4 lengths back to Blue Fire (Aurelius Maximus) in second and Evanescence (Munnings) flew late to take third after spending most of the race in another zip code.

 

Look Forward, looks to the wire and takes the G2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs!

She is trained by Michael McCarthy and was ridden by @umbyrispoli!

TwinSpiresRacing pic.twitter.com/rdYHZUqsBq

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) May 2, 2025

Pedigree Notes:

The victress is a half-sister to multiple Listed winner Amidst Waves (Midshipman), who was also graded placed last year in the GIII Soaring Softly Stakes. Their most recent half-sibling to reach racing age is the juvenile filly Classic Chaos (Classic Empire). The dam has a yearling colt by Yaupon to her credit and currently awaits her 2025 foal by Flightline. This is the extended female family of MSW Chasing Liberty (Constitution).

Friday, Churchill Downs
EIGHT BELLES S. PRESENTED BY SYSCO-GII, $579,660, Churchill Downs, 5-2, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:22.36, ft.
1–LOOK FORWARD, 118, f, 3, by Bolt d'Oro
                1st Dam: Troublesome, by Into Mischief
                2nd Dam: Apple Pie Baby, by Not For Love
                3rd Dam: Time to Dream, by Time for a Change
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($285,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Reddam Racing LLC; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC & Ballyfair Bloodstock (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Umberto Rispoli. $351,400. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, $505,675. *1/2 to Amidst Waves (Midshipman), MSW & GSP, $292,400. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Blue Fire, 118, f, 3, Aurelius Maximus–Mystic Blue, by Maimonides. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($32,000 Ylg '23 OBSWIN; $100,000 Ylg '23 FTKJUL). O-Stonestreet Stables LLC and Peter Leidel; B-J. Adcock & Nathan Granger (LA); T-Steven Asmussen. $94,000.
3–Evanescence, 118, f, 3, Munnings–Lovely Carina, by
Pioneerof the Nile. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($250,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Green Lantern Stables LLC; B-Stud TNT, LLC (KY); T-Eddie Kenneally. $57,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1, 1. Odds: 7.52, 13.30, 14.99.
Also Ran: Mendela, Verity, Whatintheliteral, Bourbon Memory, Impulse Buy, Eclatant, Princess Aliyah, Kimchi Cat. Scratched: Unchained Elaine.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs.
VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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