Abel Tasman Squishes to Kentucky Oaks Victory

By Margaret Ransom

China Horse Club and Clearsky Farm’s Abel Tasman on Friday unleashed an impressive last-to-first performance over a main Churchill Downs track that can be best described as a quagmire to win the $1 million Kentucky Oaks (GI). The daughter of Quality Road defeated a field of 13 of the best in her crop and won by 1 ¼ lengths on a surface that was officially listed as sloppy after a week’s worth of heavy rain.

The bay daughter of Quality Road gave her Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert, his third winner in the Run for the Lillies and a second for her similarly enshrined jockey Mike Smith. At odds of more than 9-1, Abel Tasman was good for $20.40, $9.40 and $6.40. Daddy’s Lil Darling, who also closed strongly in the lane from way back early, crossed the wire in second and paid $11 and $6.60, capping off the $203 exacta. Near 37-1 chance Lockdown completed the $5,727 trifecta and was good for $18.40. The superfecta, which included 40-1 outsider Vexatious, paid $85,555.10.

As expected, Santa Anita Oaks (GI) heroine Paradise Woods sped right to the lead after the break and was joined to her outside by Gazelle Stakes (GI) winner Miss Sky Warrior and with… (more)