The undefeated Zenyatta will run at the undefeated One Caroline.
Winning of four straight, Rachel Alexandra will be stalked by winner of five straight Justwhistledixie.
Our Bullsbay will get his chance to show he belongs amongst his division.
Those first two highlight Oaks day, while we'll gladly include-scratch that, favor the last.
In the GII Louisville Zenyatta is expected to return from a long winter off, to face the newcomer, One Caroline. The latter has won three times since Zenyatta was seen last. All three in impressive fashion. The last was a dominating wire-to-wire effort in the GII Rampart. The gray is yet another Unbridled's Song to erupt this season.
Zenyatta, the queen. She is 9-for-9 and has never won by less than a 1/2 length. She is by top stallion Street Cry, 6-for-6 at the distance and 1-for-1 on traditional dirt.
One Caroline's come-and-get-me front running style counters Zenyatta's patented here-I-come late move.
I can't wait for the eighth pole.
The Oaks. Rachel Alexandra could run and challenge for the top spot in the Saturday's Derby. Jockey Calvin Borel hasn't budged in three consecutive starts. She has torn up Oaklawn Park and the Fair Grounds all winter. Her pedigree pretty much reads, 'run all day'. She'll try 1 1/8 miles for the first time Saturday.
Justwhistledixie, quietly has won five in a row. She is putting in a quietly dominant east coast campaign. I'm her connections like it that way. She has not faced anything close to 'Rachel', but you may be able to say the same thing for her main rival. After this one, we'll know exactly what the 3YOF division looks like.
Sandwiched between those two events is GIII Alysheba, where Bullsbay follows up his win in the Harrison Johnson. He loved the slop that day and the forecast is calling for some rain. He does not NEED mother nature on his side. He's 3-for-3 at the 1 1/16 miles distance. While he's 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs. Nobody has stepped up in this division yet and they seem to take turns beating each other. Jeremy Rose will ride for the third straight time. Post time: 3:54 PM EST.
The last time I talked up a day was the Florida Derby and the match up between Quality Road and Dunkirk. How'd that turn out?
Head out to your local track Friday, if you really can't make it, settle for Saturday's Derby day. I don't have to talk that one up...Do I?
Bullsbay (middle) peaks his head through before
his second place finish in the John Campbell.
Great fun watching Bullsbay and Rachel Alexandra on Friday. Scotty
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