The powerhouse duo of champion Stardom Bound and Rachel Alexandra figured to be the top stories in the only pool of Churchill Downs' Kentucky Oaks Future Wager of 2009, but it was rising star Justwhistledixie who stole the show and ended up as the favorite over that duo as four days of Oaks Future betting drew to a close Sunday evening.
A weekend of upsets in important prep races for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) convinced many racing fans to turn to the "all others" option as the mutuel field ended up as the lukewarm 9-2 favorite in the second of three pools in Churchill Downs' 2009 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
Trainer Larry Jones and his wife Cindy picked the right spot for their 3-year-old filly Just Jenda, who dominated six rivals in winning the $100,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) by three lengths at Oaklawn Park March 15.
Odds-on choice Game Face won the Gulfstream Park rubber match when she overpowered her rival Any Limit in the homestretch to win the $150,000 Inside Information Stakes (gr. II) by 2 1/2 lengths on March 15.
Gozzip Girl, kicking home from the inside, collared Obsequious in deep stretch to score a half-length win in the $150,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the Gulfstream Park turf March 15.
Horse Chestnut, a South African Horse of the Year, will be shipped out of the United States to take up stud duties at the Rupert family's Drakenstein Stud Farm in the Western Cape in South Africa.
The streaking Justwhistledixie continued to be a surprising favorite over the high-powered duo of reigning 2-year-old filly champion Stardom Bound and Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) winner Rachel Alexandra as Churchill Downs' 2009 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager headed into the last day of its four-day run.
On a day marked by a pair of strong efforts by major Kentucky Derby contenders alongside two major upset, fans of Churchill Downs' Kentucky Derby Future Wager continued to turn to the "all others" option in their search for a betting option and that wagering interest is a narrow favorite as Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future bet headed into its final day.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Kaleem Shah, Inc.
Jockey: Mike E. Smith
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