Sky Mom, seeking her fourth win of the 2008 campaign for trainer Steve Asmussen, is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the $400,000 Indiana Oaks (gr. II) at Hoosier Park on the evening of Oct. 3.
Eleven 3-year-old fillies are entered in the 1 1/16-mile Oaks, which has a 7 p.m. ET post as the 10th race on the program. This is the first year that the race has grade II status.
Sky Mom, who won the WinStar Oaks at Sunland Park this spring for owner Heather Stark, is coming off a one-length triumph in the Arlington Park Oaks (gr. III) Aug. 2. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Maria's Mon ran second to Storm Mesa in the Iowa Oaks (gr. III) prior to that and has amassed $278,050 in earnings this year. Shaun Bridgmohan, who rode Sky Mesa in the Iowa Oaks, regains the mount here and they will break from post 3.
Grade I winner Golden Doc A looks to break a five-race losing streak. The California-bred daughter of Unusual Heat, now listed as trained by Gregory Fox for owner Ron McCauley, ran fourth in both the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and Acorn (gr. I) this spring. She won the Las Virgenes (gr. I) and finished second in the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) in Southern California. Golden Doc A is also entered in Keeneland's Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. III).
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas enters Briland Farm homebred Color Me Up, who ran third after setting the pace in the Fitz Dixon Cotillion (gr. II) at Philadephia Park Sept. 20.
Dubai Majesty was a distant second to Indyanne in the Azalea Stakes (gr. III) at Calder this summer for trainer Bret Calhoun, while the Steve Margolis trainee Whirlee Bertie is coming off a third-place showing in the Monmouth Park Oaks (gr. III) Aug. 9. Stonerside Stable homebred Skylighter brings back-to-back wins at Belmont Park for trainer Bobby Frankel into her stakes debut.
$400,000 Indiana Oaks (gr. II, Race 10, 7 p.m.), 3-Year-old Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Skylighter (KY), Eddie Castro, 118, 12/1
2. Golden Doc A (CA), Jesus L. Castanon, 121, 7/2
3. Sky Mom (KY), Shaun Bridgmohan, 121, 5/2
4. Whirlie Bertie (KY), Calvin H. Borel, 118, 8/1
5. Hey There Cupcake (IN), Fernando De La Cruz, 114, 20/1
6. Color Me Up (KY), Miguel Mena, 112, 4/1
7. Dubai Majesty (FL), Jamie Theriot, 114, 5/1
8. Pious Ashley (KY), Victor Lebron, 112, 15/1
10. Moa Annette (KY), Rodney A. Prescott, 112, 20/1
11. Awesome Moment (KY), Orlando Mojica
Sky Mom won the WinStar Oaks earlier this spring.
Coady Photography