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Storm Flag Flying Heads Kentucky Oaks Nominees
By: John Asher

Kentucky Oaks 129 Headlines:

  • Storm Flag Flying Tops Oaks Nominees
  • Elegant Designer, Cyber Secret In Busher
  • Gal O Gal In A Drive For Five

    Ogden Mills Phipps' unbeaten Storm Flag Flying, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I) and the champion 2-year-old filly of 2002, heads a list of 138 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 129th renewal of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday, May 2.

    If the Shug McGaughey-trained daughter of Storm Cat runs in the Oaks, she will attempt to repeat the success enjoyed under the historic Twin Spires of Churchill Downs by her acclaimed grand-dam Personal Ensign.

    Personal Ensign defeated Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Winning Colors (GI) in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) at Churchill Downs to complete an unbeaten racing career. Storm Flag Flying's dam, My Flag, did not have as much luck at the Louisville track. She finished fifth to Pike Place Dancer in the 1996 Kentucky Oaks in her only race at Churchill Downs.

    McGaughey also nominated Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Yell, winner of last week's Davona Dale (GIII) at Gulfstream Park.

    Other 3-year-old filly stars nominated to the Kentucky Oaks include Las Virgenes (GI) winner Composure; Hollywood Starlet (GI) winner Elloluv; Spinaway (GI) winner Awesome Humor, Golden Rod (GII) winner My Boston Gal, Walmac Alcibiades (GII) winner Westerly Breeze, Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies (GIII) winner Atlantic Ocean, and unbeaten Lady Tak.

    Dubai-based Godolphin Racing nominated eight fillies to the Oaks and is the leading owner of Oaks nominees. The Godolphin group includes Danuta, a daughter of 1989 Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence who won the Moonshell Mile last week at Nad Al Sheba. Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor and U.S.-based Todd Pletcher each train eight Oaks nominees and tied for leading trainer honors.

    Four-time Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas nominated four fillies to the 1 1/8-mile race, which will be televised live by ESPN.

    East -- Michael Sherman's Elegant Designer, a winner of five of seven lifetime starts, heads a field of six 3-year-old fillies entered in Saturday's $75,000 Busher Stakes at Aqueduct.

    The 1 1/16-mile Busher marks the debut at a two-turn distance for the daughter of Suave Prospect, who is trained by Tony Dutrow and will be ridden by Mike Pino. Elegant Designer brings a three-race winning streak into the Busher that includes wins in the Great State Challenge Juvenile Fillies at Sam Houston and the Joe O'Farrell at Calder Race Course.

    The major threat to Elegant Designer may be Cyber Secret, winner of the Busanda at Aqueduct for trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. on Jan. 26. Jockey Jean-Luc Samyn returns to the saddle aboard Cyber Secret, a winner of three of five races.

    Southeast -- The streaking Gal O Gal, winner of the Herecomesthebride (GIII) in her most recent outing, figures to be the favorite in Friday's $65,000 Gaily Gaily Stakes on the grass at Gulfstream Park.

    That win by the Vincent Blengs-trained filly was her fourth consecutive victory on the turf. Chris DeCarlo will return to ride Gal O Gal, a daughter of Manlove and former claiming horse as she faces 11 rivals in the 1 1/8-mile race.

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