10.27.2001	Breeders' Cup Ltd. photo
		Godolphin Racing Inc.'s champion two-year-old filly Tempera, shown winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) under jockey David Flores, heads a star-studded list of 146 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 128th renewal of Churchill Downs' $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday, May 3.

Champion Tempera Heads List Of 146 Fillies Nominated To Kentucky Oaks 128

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 12, 2002) - Godolphin's Tempera, who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I) to seal her selection as America's champion 2-year-old filly in 2001, heads a star-studded list of 146 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 128th renewal of Churchill Downs' $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday, May 3.

A win in the Oaks by Tempera, a daughter of A.P. Indy trained by Saeed bin Suroor, would place her in elite company as she would be just the third filly to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, an Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly, and a Kentucky Oaks victory the following spring. Eugene Klein's Open Mind, the 1989 Oaks winner, and Mike Pegram's Silverbulletday, who captured the Oaks in 1999, are the only fillies to accomplish that feat.

The 2002 edition of the 1 1/8-mile Oaks, which has become known through the years as the "Kentucky Derby for fillies," is scheduled for Friday, May 3. The popularity of the race has soared in recent years and Oaks Day now ranks as the second-largest attraction in American racing - trailing only the Kentucky Derby, which is run at Churchill Downs the following day. The Kentucky Oaks attracted a crowd of 102,904 in 2001 - second only to the record attendance of 106,156 at its 2000 renewal.

The Kentucky Oaks will again be telecast live on ESPN.

Tempera is joined on the list of Kentucky Oaks nominees by such stars as Godophin stablemate and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Imperial Gesture, winner of the recent Moonshell Mile at Nad al Sheba in Dubai; Edmund Gann's You, winner of the Santa Anita Oaks (GI) and Las Virgenes (GI); The Thoroughbred Corp's Habibti, winner of the Hollywood Starlet (GI) and Del Mar Debutante (GI); Robert Manfuso's unbeaten Belterra, winner of the Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs; Michael Tabor's Bella Belluci, winner of the Astarita (GII) and third-place finisher in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies; and Select Stable's Take Charge Lady, a convincing winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) and Silverbulletday (GIII).

"The Kentucky Oaks has become one of the most prestigious races for 3-year-old fillies in the world and the international list of nominations for this year's renewal is a testament to its growing stature," said Don Richardson, senior vice president, Racing for Churchill Downs Incorporated. "The Oaks is a great race and the focal point of spectacular day of racing and this year's group of nominees is one of its best ever."

Todd Pletcher led all trainers as he nominated eight fillies, one more than Elliott Walden. Dubai-based Godolphin led all owners with five nominees, one more than WinStar Farm.

Adding to the international flavor of this year's Oaks nominees is Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier's Venus de Milo, a daughter of A.P. Indy trained by Ireland's Aidan O'Brien. O'Brien trains 2001 2-year-old champion Johannesburg, who races for the same owners and is expected to travel to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.

The 2001 Kentucky Oaks, which attracted 167 nominees, was won by Juddmonte Farm's Flute. The daughter of 1977 Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew gave 2001 Eclipse Award-winning trainer Bobby Frankel his second Oaks victory and jockey Jerry Bailey, also an Eclipse winner in 2001, his second win in the race.