Shedaresthedevil heads Indiana Oaks; Wicked Whisper back for Beaumont Stakes

Jul 07, 2020 by James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Contenders for the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks (G1) will square off in a pair of weekday prep races, with Wednesday’s $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3) at Indiana Grand and Friday’s $100,000 Beaumont Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.

Both races have been added to the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, with the Indiana Grand rewarding the top four finishers on a 20-8-4-2 scale and the Beaumont worth 10-4-2-1 points.

Shedaresthedevil is the one to beat in the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Oaks. Winner of the Honeybee (G3) three back, the Brad Cox-trained daughter of Daredevil finished third in the Fantasy (G3) before romping in a June 6 allowance at Churchill Downs. Florent Geroux will be in to ride.

A total of 11 sophomore fillies have been entered including Bayerness, third in the June 6 Dogwood Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs; Grade 1-placed Alandra, a convincing allowance winner most recently at Belmont Park; stakes-placed Impeccable Style and Tempers Rising; and impressive maiden scorer Aurelia Garland.

A nice field of six is set for the Beaumont, and Grade 1 winner Wicked Whisper will make her 3-year-old debut in the 7-furlong test.

Last seen finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Wicked Whisper easily captured her first two starts, including a 2 3/4-length decision in the Frizette Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. Joel Rosario will be up for Steve Asmussen.

Speech merits serious respect. A neck second to subsequent Acorn (G1) star Gamine in an Oaklawn allowance two back, the Michael McCarthey trainee exits a runner-up effort in the June 6 Santa Anita Oaks (G1). Javier Castellano has the call. Four Graces enters on the upswing for Ian Wilkes, posting a 2 1/2-length decision in the Dogwood last out. Julien Leparoux retains the mount.