Front-running Lorelei Lee held off a late charge from Lovely Grey to land the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks March 21 at Turfway Park.
Trained by Michael Maker, she broke sharply from the outside and went to the lead, with Cincinnati Trophy Stakes winner Resplendence tracking her through fractions of :24.07, :49.77, and 1:13.89. As the field came out of the turn, Lovely Grey and Resist took up the challenge from a fading Resplendence, but their rallies fell short as Lorelei Lee prevailed by three-quarters of a length. She ran the1 1/16 in a final time of 1:44.81 over the all-weather surface and earned 50 points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 1 at Churchill Downs.'
Though unraced on dirt, Maker believes the surface should not be a problem for his filly.
"I don't think she would mind it. Her half brother liked it." Maker said. "I thought stretching out, she'd show some natural speed."
When asked about the distance, he said, "That's what we wanted to do all along with her. She's very professional."
Owned by Skychai Racing and bred by Hot Pink Stables, the daughter of Nyquist is a half sister to millionaire and multiple graded stakes winner, Somelikeithotbrown . She paid $23.98 for the win.
Lorelei Lee is not currently nominated to the Kentucky Oaks, but Maker confirmed the ownership has made the decision she will be. The cost of a late supplement is $1,500 through April 8.
The post-time favorite, Lovely Grey, was second. Resist finished third with La Ville Lumiere fourth and Bless Her fifth. They earned Kentucky Oaks points of 25-15-10-5, respectively.
Video: Bourbonette Oaks (BT)
Velazquez's Smart Ride on Willy D's wins Kentucky Cup Classic
The victory in the Bourbonette Oaks completed a successful daily double for Maker as, one race earlier, he sent Paradise Farms' Willy D's out for victory in the $295,000 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (G3).
The triumph was the 5-year-old Lookin At Lucky gelding's first since taking a Horseshoe Indianapolis stakes last July, although he has placed at the grade 2 level since.
The difference maker today?
"Johnny V," Maker said. "I couldn't even mess Johnny's day up."
That day for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez included a trio of stakes wins; preceding the Kentucky Cup Classic with victories aboard Bull by the Horns in the $245,000 Rushaway Stakes and Outfielder in the $248,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes.
His ride in the Classic was a prime example as to why Velazquez has won more prize money than any rider in North American history. After Tickled Quist attempted to slow the pace down following an opening quarter in :22.87, Velazquez pounced forward to be in contention for the lead after a half-mile in :47.51. He then kept pressure on through three-quarters in 1:11.76, dispatched of his pacesetting rival at the five-sixteenths pole, and outlasted challenges from Mercante and Honor Marie, who finished second and third, respectively.
Completing 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.88, he paid $17.94 in his three-quarter-length victory.
Maker and Paradise Farms claimed Willy D's for $50,000 almost exactly one year ago, with Maker saying he originally had planned to try him on turf. Willy D's performed well enough since the claim on dirt for Maker not to switch surfaces, and now with a win on Tapeta under his belt, perhaps a return to the turf, where he's 1-for-2 lifetime, could be in his future.
Willy D's was bred by Beau Lane in Kentucky out of the winning Mineshaft mare Boston Mine.
