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Island Fashion Surprises In WinStar Oaks
By: John Asher

Kentucky Oaks 129 Headlines:

  • Yell Sharp In Prep For Ashland Stakes
  • Storm Flag Flying Works, Heads North

    West -- Everest Stable's Island Fashion, a winless 3-year-old filly when the day began, rallied from well off the pace to score a sharp two-length victory in Saturday's inaugural running of the $250,000 WinStar Oaks at New Mexico's Sunland Park.

    The victory was the first in three career races for the Nick Canani-trained daughter of Petionville and it could earn the filly a trip to Churchill Downs for the 129th running of the Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) on May 2. The California invader finished fourth to stablemate Harbor Blues in her career debut in the Arizona Oaks at Turf Paradise in early February and followed that race with a narrow loss in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race at Santa Anita.

    Island Fashion ended her short victory drought with style as she rallied from eighth under jockey Ignacio Puglisi and rolled past the pacesetting Ela Ela in the final furlong. Longshot Isit Still Legal was third with the well-regarded Himalayan fourth and favored Souris finished a nonthreatening fifth.

    "Nick said to be real aggressive," said Puglisi. "I was looking for a good spot behind horses so that I could punch home late. We started to pick off horses one at a time. I angled her outside and she came home strong."

    Island Fashion completed the one-mile distance in 1:36.29, which was less than a second off the track record.

    After the race Canani said a trip to Churchill Downs was possible for his filly.

    "She is one of those fillies that took a while to come around," he said. "There is a chance we'll go."

    The WinStar Oaks marks the second time this year that a Canani-trained filly scored her first career victory in stakes company. Harbor Blues was a maiden when she won the Arizona Oaks by 11 1/2 lengths in her sixth career start.

    Central -- Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Yell, winner of the Davona Dale (GII) at Gulfstream Park, tuned up for Saturday's Ashland Stakes (GI) at Keeneland with a sharp four-furlong workout on Monday at the Lexington, Ky. track.

    The daughter of A.P. Indy breezed this distance over a "fast" track in :48, the fastest of 11 moves at the distance.

    Yell won the Davona Dale by six lengths over Ivanavinalot, who returned to win the Bonnie Miss (GII) in her next outing. She is 3-0-1 in four races, with one of those victories coming via disqualification.

    The Shug McGaughey-trained filly will be ridden in the Ashland by John Velazquez , where she is expected to have a rematch with Ivanavinalot. Other likely Ashland contenders include unbeaten Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) winner Lady Tak and Hollywood Futurity (GI) winner Elloluv.

    Southeast -- Ogden Mills Phipps' Storm Flag Flying, the reigning 2-year-old filly champion, ended her winter in Florida with a solid five furlong breeze on Monday at Gulfstream Park.

    The daughter of Storm Cat breezed the distance over a 'fast' track in 1:02.80, the sixth-fastest move of 17 at the distance. The day's fastest five furlong work was turned in by 2002 Kentucky Oaks runner-up Take Charge Lady, who covered the distance in 1:00.80.

    Storm Flag Flying was scheduled to catch a plane to New York's Belmont Park Monday afternoon.

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