A total of 133 fillies, highlighted by graded stakes winners Untapable, Onlyforyou, and Awesome Baby, currently the top point earners on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), have been nominated to Keeneland's $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (gr. I), to be held Saturday, April 5.
Contested at 1 1/16 miles, the Central Bank Ashland historically showcases Kentucky Oaks-bound fillies, with the winner earning 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
Untapable, winner of the Pocahontas (gr. II) and Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III); Onlyforyou, who captured the Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) and Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II); and Awesome Baby, who scored in the Santa Ynez (gr. II) and Santa Ysabel (gr. III), are currently tied for first on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leader board with 60 points each. Also nominated is She's a Tiger, the 2013 Eclipse Award winner as champion juvenile filly.
The complete list of 2014 Central Bank Ashland nominees and past performances for each are available at Keeneland.com.
A late nomination period for the Central Bank Ashland closes Wednesday, March 26.
Multiple Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher leads all trainers with 18 fillies nominated to the Central Bank Ashland, followed by Chad Brown with seven nominees. Michael Matz, Mike Maker, and Mark Casse each nominated six fillies.
Last year, Juddmonte Farms' homebred Emollient overcame the outside No. 13 post position and cruised to a front-running nine-length victory over Tuttipaesi in the Ashland. Emollient gave Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his first Ashland victory and became the third Ashland winner for Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith.
The Ashland is the first of five grade I stakes held during Keeneland's Spring Meet, scheduled for April 4-25. Post time daily is 1:05 p.m. ET.