Fillies audition in Martha Washington, Forward Gal, Las Virgenes

Feb 01, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

In addition to Saturday’s four Road to the Kentucky Derby events, this weekend features Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopefuls competing in a trio of scoring races across the country.

The 1 1/16-mile Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park is the fillies’ counterpart to the Southwest (G3), while the Forward Gal (G3) is a seven-furlong affair on the Holy Bull (G3) undercard at Gulfstream Park. The action extends to Santa Anita with the Las Virgenes (G3) over a mile on Sunday, one day after the companion Robert B. Lewis (G3).

Like the corresponding Derby preps, the three Road to the Kentucky Oaks races are worth points on the 20-10-6-4-2 scale to the top five eligible finishers. Let’s take a look at the key contenders, in order of the scheduled post times.

Forward Gal (G3) (4:38 p.m. ET Saturday)

Scalable aims to be part of a banner day for Repole Stable and Todd Pletcher, whose champion Fierceness returns in the Holy Bull about an hour later. A smashing maiden winner at Gulfstream Jan. 4, Scalable is already a familiar face on the Oaks trail as the runner-up in the Chandelier (G2) and fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

R Harper Rose romped in her first three starts here, including the Susan’s Girl division of the Florida Sire S. at this trip, but was then upset when trying to go farther in the My Dear Girl division. Dual stakes scorer Chi Chi has a similar profile as she cuts back in distance from a fifth in the Cash Run S.

Other stakes winners in the line-up are Witwatersrand, last seen landing the Mazarine (G3) at Woodbine, and Maryland Juvenile Filly S. victress Kissedbyanangel, coming off a third in Gulfstream’s Glitter Woman S. Nikitis, an Aqueduct maiden winner for Chad Brown, and Fiona’s Magic, who’s won two straight at Gulfstream, round out the field.

Martha Washington S. (4:40 p.m. ET Saturday)

Denim and Pearls was just run down late as the odds-on favorite in the Dec. 31 Year’s End S., but the Brad Cox filly will be well backed to resume her winning habit. By perennial leading sire Into Mischief, the $500,000 yearling purchase had won her first two starts around one turn. Although she came up short on the stretch-out last time, Denim and Pearls has the pedigree to handle the distance. Her full brother, Newgate, captured last year’s Bob Lewis and recently placed second in the San Pasqual (G2).

Also exiting the Year’s End are third-placer Neom Beach, a Steve Asmussen pupil who faded after arguing the pace, and Tapit Jenallie, who sustained her first loss in a non-threatening fifth. Band of Gold likewise hopes to do better than her fifth in the Dec. 23 Untapable S. at Fair Grounds, and Divine Gal steps up in distance following her disappointing sixth in the six-furlong Mockingbird S. here.

Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas sends out Saratoga Secret for her two-turn debut. Runner-up in last summer’s Schuylerville (G3), the daughter of the late, great Arrogate has rallied for fourth in her past two sprints, and she figures to enjoy the added ground.

A pair of maiden winners will add intrigue on the class hike. Promisemeanempire, by champion and 2017 Arkansas Derby (G1) star Classic Empire, graduated at Churchill Downs Nov. 26, and In Good Taste, a stablemate of Denim and Pearls from the Cox barn, gamely prevailed on this oval Dec. 8 over a big next-out winner.

Las Virgenes (G3) (6:30 p.m. ET Sunday)

Undefeated Santa Ynez (G3) heroine Kopion will take her first distance test in the Las Virgenes, where she will meet streaking Starlet (G2) vixen Nothing Like You and impressive debut winner Kinza.

Kopion is bred to thrive beyond sprints. From the first crop of Omaha Beach, the 2019 Kentucky Derby favorite who had to scratch, Kopion is a half-sister to Canadian champion Amis Gizmo. They are out of a prolific mare by 1998 Belmont (G1) winner Victory Gallop. Trained like her sire by Richard Mandella, Kopion has looked potentially special by dominating her first two starts by a combined total of 9 1/2 lengths.

Her principal rivals, Nothing Like You and Kinza, are ineligible for Oaks points because trainer Bob Baffert is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc.

Kinza stamped herself as one to follow by crushing her six-furlong debut by 7 1/2 lengths. Like Kopion, she has to prove her ability at a mile.

Nothing Like You didn’t look special in sprints, but she has upped her game significantly over a route of ground. A 6 1/2-length maiden winner at this track and trip, she rolled by 5 1/4 lengths in the Starlet in her latest. In between, Nothing Like You just scraped home in the seven-furlong Desi Arnaz S., confirming the impression that she needs two turns to show her best. Renowned international jockey Frankie Dettori, now based in Southern California, picks up the mount.

Great Forty Eight crossed the wire a clear second in the Starlet, only to be disqualified to fourth for causing interference. The Tim Yakteen filly will try to make amends here. The ultra-consistent Grand Slam Smile has won three stakes, most recently taking the California Cup Oaks in state-restricted company going one mile on turf. She’s a Tempest, runner-up in Kopion’s maiden, returned to score her own breakthrough over this distance.

You can watch and wager on all the Oaks preps at TwinSpires.com.