The one-mile Polytrack race for 3-year-old fillies could be a steppingstone to the May 4 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. A field of nine was drawn.
More Than Love, who will carry 124 pounds including Corey Nakatani, was beaten a nose in the Feb. 4 Florida Oaks on the Tampa Bay Downs turf last out. All four of her lifetime starts have come on turf, including two wins to complete her juvenile season. The daughter of More Than Ready scored the Miesque (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park back in November.
John Terranova trains More Than Love, a chestnut filly bred in Kentucky by Loft Hall Stud, Galleria Bloodstock, and Samac. She was a $130,000 yearling buy at Keeneland.
Leading national trainer Todd Pletcher will have a pair of chances in the Bourbonette Oaks with In Lingerie and Dancing Solo. They will run as an uncoupled entry.
Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber, In Lingerie broke her maiden by more than four lengths at Turfway back in January. She ran a distant second in an optional claimer at Gulfstream Feb. 25. John Velazquez will have the mount.
Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ Dancing Solo has raced twice at Gulfstream this season without a win. Overall, she has already started six times with her lone victory coming by nine lengths in December at Gulfstream. By Giant's Causeway, Pletcher is hoping Dancing Solo will improve on Polytrack. Javier Castellano will be in the irons.
Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker are both perennial Turfway leaders but are seeking their first win in this event. They will send out Original Kitten, a homebred daughter of Kitten's Joy. Original Kitten enters off a convincing 3 1/4-length maiden victory in her fourth try Jan. 28 on the Turfway Polytrack. That race came at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Maker assigned the mount to Rosie Napravnik, the Fair Grounds-based rider who is in town to ride Maker’s Mr. Prankster in the $500,000 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr. III).
Dixiana Stables’ Fair Grounds shipper Toxis will also enter the race off a maiden win, which came on Jan. 22 in her fourth try. The Street Sense homebred will likely be coming from off the pace under Joel Rosario.
$100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (gr. III, Race 9, 5:12 p.m.), 3YO Fillies, 1 Mile (Polytrack) PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer 1. Original Kitten (KY), R Napravnik, 118, M J Maker
2. Toxis (KY), J Rosario, 120, S Margolis
3. More Than Love (KY), C S Nakatani, 124, J P Terranova, II
4. In Lingerie (KY), J R Velazquez, 118, T A Pletcher
5. Dancing Solo (KY), J Castellano, 118, T A Pletcher
6. Bourbonesque (KY), R Maragh, 118, D W Lukas
7. Dixie Jackpot (KY), L J Martinez Jr., 118, T Freeman
8. Bourbonstreetgirl (KY), J Alvarado, 118, G C Contessa
9. Venetian Sonata (KY), J P Vargas, 118, W R Helmbrecht
