Zany, Bella Ballerina Lead 89 Early Nominations for Kentucky Oaks

[Wandering Eyes]

Unbeaten 3-year-old fillies Zany (American Pharoah) and Bella Ballerina (Street Sense), one-two on the most recent TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10, lead the list of 89 early nominations to this year's GI Kentucky Oaks, released Tuesday by Churchill Downs.

Repole Stable's Zany is three-for-three following her win in the Feb. 7 Suncoast Stakes and is expected to make her next start in the Apr. 3 GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes. Godolphin's Bella Ballerina took her record to a matching three-for-three with her victory in the Feb. 14 GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes and is expected to make her next start in the Mar. 21 GII Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks.

Also on the list of early nominees is last year's Eclipse champion 2-year-old filly Super Corredora (Gun Runner), who will look to rebound from a fourth-place effort in her sophomore debut in the Feb. 8 Las Virgenes Stakes this weekend in the GIII Santa Ysabel Stakes.

Other stakes-winning nominees include GII Oak Leaf Stakes winner Explora (Blame); GIII Forward Gal Stakes winner On Time Girl (Not This Time); GIII Pocahontas Stakes winner Taken by the Wind (Rock Your World); and Las Virgenes winner Meaning (Gun Runner).

The 89 fillies were made eligible to compete in the May 1 Kentucky Oaks through a $200 early nomination payment that closed Feb. 18. A $1,500 late nomination deadline is available through Apr. 8.

For the complete list of nominees, click here.

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