May 2, 2006
The fillies never get the press the boys do, but on Friday they get the spotlight in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. On Tuesday the post positions were drawn for the 132nd Kentucky Oaks and a field of 14 3-year-old fillies were entered in the $500,000 Grade 1 event over 1 1/8 miles on the main track.
The favorite this year at 2-1 is Balance, winner of the Las Virgenes and Santa Anita Oaks and 3rd in the Ashland at Keeneland last out. The co-second choices are Wait a While and Bushfire, the two who beat Balance at Keeneland. Bushfire is the winner of the Florida Oaks and the Ashland, and Wait a While is the winner of the Davona Dale at Gulfstream, was 3rd in the Bonnie Miss also at Gulfstream, and was 2nd in the Ashland.
For more info, news, and notes on the Oaks, check the special Oaks section at Churchill Downs. Free past performances are available from DRF. You can watch most of the Oaks card on EPSN or ESPN2 on Friday afternoon. The Oaks itself will be on ESPN from 5:00-6:00pm EDT with a post time of 5:45pm.
Here are the entries for the Kentucky Oaks. Be sure to click the link on each horse's name to view full info, stats, and a photo from Churchill Downs. All starters carry 121 lbs.
| Program # | Horse | M/L Odds | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1 | Miss Norman | 20-1 | Karin Long | Pablo Morales |
| 2 | Diplomat Lady | 10-1 | Christopher Paasch | Alex Solis |
| 3 | Quiet Kim | 12-1 | Bob Hess | Kent Desormeaux |
| 4 | Balance | 2-1 | David Hofmans | Victor Espinoza |
| 5 | Red Cherries Spin | 50-1 | Bernie Flint | Jesus Castanon |
| 6 | Ex Caelis | 20-1 | D. Wayne Lukas | Julien Leparoux |
| 7 | Wonder Lady Anne L | 8-1 | Richard Dutrow Jr. | Edgar Prado |
| 8 | Wait a While | 5-1 | Todd Pletcher | Garrett Gomez |
| 9 | Itty Bitty Pretty | 12-1 | Doug O'Neill | Patrick Valenzuela |
| 10 | Bushfire | 5-1 | Eddie Kenneally | Cornelio Velasquez |
| 11 | Top Notch Lady | 20-1 | Mark Casse | Patrick Husbands |
| 12 | Ermine | 12-1 | Ronny Werner | Robby Albarado |
| 13 | Last Romance | 15-1 | Richard Dutrow Jr. | Rafael Bejarano |
| 14 | Lemons Forever | 20-1 | Dallas Stewart | Mark Guidry |
