Kentucky Oaks 2015 Contender By the Moon

Kentucky Oaks 2015 Contender By the Moon: Every year, the Road to the Kentucky Oaks is a bit overshadowed by the Road to the Kentucky Derby, but every year, more fans struggle to handicap the Oaks than the Derby. Why? Is it because the race it shorter than the Derby? Is it because the fillies can be more or less than consistent than the colts? Is it the breeding affects the fillies more than the colts? No one really knows, but Kentucky Oaks horses can burst through even when they don’t seemingly have a chance. Just look at the 2013 Kentucky Oaks winner.

The Breeders’ Cup is gone and most horses have been put up for the winter to rest. By the Moon is likely not going to be seen until after the universal birthday for her to become a three-year-old filly. Last seen at Santa Anita, By the Moon was finishing eighth in the Juvenile Fillies. For reasons unknown, she never was a factor, despite being a strong filly leading up to the race.

Winner on debut, By the Moon moved into grade two competition in the seven furlong Spinaway. Finishing second behind Condo Commando on a sloppy (sealed) track, the filly was obviously impressive enough to move on to grade one competition. By the Moon pulled away to an convincing 2 ¼ length score in the Frizette, which came on a sloppy (sealed) track.

By the Moon has only ran four times, two times were wins, one was a second, and the other was a head scratcher. The filly has one win on a fast track and two convincing performances on the slop. Could the poor performance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies be because she didn’t care for the fast track? She has a win on a fast track, but not against the competition she faced in the Breeders’ Cup.

By the Moon has the breeding to be able to handle any type of track, fast, slow, wet, or dry. The damsire, Malibu Moon, is the sire of the 2013 Kentucky Derby winner, the mud monster, Orb. Indian Charlie, her sire, has sired multiple high class horses who can run over any type of surface. Indian Charlie did win his second start on a track labeled wet fast, showing he could handle moisture in the track. Her dam, By the Light, finished second in the G2 Prioress on a muddy (sealed) track, to top filly Indian Blessing.

By the Moon threw in a clunker in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but possibly that was the off day for her. Her pedigree and consistency (if you toss the BCJF) show that she should mature in 2015 and come back and be a factor on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.