Champion Folklore Tops List of Ashland Nominees

Champion juvenile filly Folklore tops a list of 80 nominees for the $500,000 Ashland Stakes (gr. I) April 8, at Keeneland.

Owned by the Estate of Robert B. Lewis, Folklore won the Alberto VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr.I) and finished second to stablemate Dance Daily, also nominated to the Ashland, in her 3-year debut in the Santa Ynez (gr. III) at Santa Anita.

Only three fillies have captured both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and Ashland Stakes:Go For Wand (1990), My Flag (1996), and Silverbulletday (1999).

Folklore is trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who tied former assistant Todd Pletcher in number of nominated fillies, each having 10.

Lukas has won the Ashland three times: Blush With Pride (1982), Chic Shrine (1987), and Well Chosen (1998).

Among Pletcher's nominees are Tabor, Smith and Magnier's Adieu, winner of the Frizette (gr. I) and Arindel Farm's Wait a While, winner of the Davona Dale (gr. II) at Gulfstream.

Other prominent nominees to the Ashland include Puglisi Stables and Steve Klesaris' Miraculous Miss, winner of the Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II); Amerman Racing Stables' Balance, winner of the Las Virgenes (gr. I); Tabor, Magnier and Smith's Wild Fit, winner of the Del Mar Debutante (gr. I), and Charles Cono LLC's Diplomat Lady, winner of the Hollywood Startlet (gr. I).

The Ashland, run at 1 1/16 miles, is a premier prep for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). Through the years, 10 fillies have won both the Ashland and the Oaks, the last being Silverbulletday in 1999.

Last year, Stonerside Stable, Goldfarb, Torre, Dubb and Davis' Sis City bested a strong Ashland field that included Runway Model, Summerly, and Letgomyecho, by 10 ½ lengths. Summerly, who finished fourth in the Ashland, won the Kentucky Oaks in her next start.