Favored Elloluv Draws Rail In Kentucky Oaks 129
By: John Asher

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Apr. 29, 2003) - John Paul Reddam's Elloluv, winner of the Grade I Ashland Stakes and Hollywood Starlet, drew the rail post in a field of 12 3-year-old filles entered for the 129th running of the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) on Friday, May 2 at Churchill Downs.

The Craig Dollase-trained daughter of Gilded Time possesses sharp early speed and her inside post should allow Elloluv to take full advantage of that early foot in the 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-old fillies.

"That's fine," said Dollase. "She gets herself right on out of there. It's the shortest way around, right?"

Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed Elloluv as a 5-2 morning line favorite in the Oaks. She will be ridden for the second consecutive race by Churchill Downs-based jockey Robby Albarado, who will be looking for his first win in the sister race to the Kentucky Derby (GI) that has been run each year without interruption since 1875.

But to get to the Kentucky Oaks winner's circle, Elloluv must turn back an accomplished group of rivals that includes such stars as Chester Porter, Phil Milner and Randall Bloch's My Boston Gal, winner of the Golden Rod (GII) and the Stonerside Beaumont (GII); Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's Lady Tak, winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII); Robert and Beverly Lewis' Santa Catarina, third to champion Storm Flag Flying in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) and runner-up to that rival in the Frizette (GI); and Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Yell, winner of the Davona Dale (GII) at Gulfstream Park.

The Carl Nafzger-trained My Boston Gal and Lady Tak, trained by Steve Asmussen, are listed as the co-second choices in the Oaks at 4-1. The Bob Baffert-trained Santa Catarina is next at 9-2.

Elloluv was allowed to cruise on an easy lead in her 3 3/4-length romp in the Ashland and should be very dangerous if allowed to employ the same tactics on Friday. But Ian Wilkes, Nafzger's assistant trainer, doubts that My Boston Gal and other Oaks stars will allow her to make an unchallenged lead.

"I don't think she'll get loose - not in this race," said Wilkes. "There's a lot of speed in there. I think we're sandwiched between speed."

The field for the 129th Kentucky Oaks also includes such accomplished fillies as The Thoroughbred Corp's Atlantic Ocean, a four-time stakes winner trained by Baffert, Everest Stable's Island Fashion, winner of the WinStar/Sunland Park Oaks; Go for Glamour, third in Santa Anita Oaks (GI); and the Nick Zito-trained duo of Stonerside Beaumont runner-up Bird Town and Holiday Lady, third in the Ashland.

The Kentucky Oaks will telecast live on ESPN2 from 5-6 p.m. (all times Eastern).

The Kentucky Oaks is the main event on a special 11-race card that includes four stakes races with combined purses of $1 million. The Oaks also concludes a special All Stakes Pick Four that will carry a guaranteed minimum pool of $250,000.

Admission gates open at 8:00 a.m. and first race post time is 11:15 a.m.

Grade I Kentucky Oaks -- 129th running

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	M/L Odds*
1	Elloluv	Robby Albarado	Craig Dollase	5-2
2	My Boston Gal	Pat Day	Carl Nafzger	4-1
3	Go For Glamour	Alex Solis	Beau Greely	20-1
4	Holiday Lady	Jose Santos	Nick Zito	20-1
5	Bird Town	Edgar Prado	Nick Zito	10-1
6	Yell	John Velazquez	Shug McGaughey	8-1
7	Lady Tak	Jerry Bailey	Steve Asmussen	4-1
8	Atlantic Ocean	David Flores	Bob Baffert	10-1
9	Tempus Fugit	Shane Sellers	Ken McPeek	50-1
10	In Case Of Wind	Calvin Borel	Bill Million	50-1
11	Santa Catarina	Gary Stevens	Bob Baffert	9-2
12	Island Fashion	Patrick Valenzuela	Nick Canani	30-1

* = morning line odds by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia

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