Shedaresthedevil Pulls Clear to Take Indiana Oaks

Shedaresthedevil took another step toward the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) with a five-length victory in the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3) July 8 at Indiana Grand. The Daredevil  filly now sits in third on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 90 points.

Trainer Brad Cox said Wednesday's race was a positive effort toward the Sept. 4 fillies' classic. It followed an allowance optional claiming victory June 5 at Churchill Downs.

"She's got enough points to get in," he said. "I won't say we'll make it easy on her, but as easy on her as we can to try to get her into the Oaks the best way and get her there with some confidence."

The 3-5 favorite in the field of eight, Flurry Racing Stables, Qatar Racing, and Big Aut Farms' Shedaresthedevil was piloted by Florent Geroux, who settled her in second behind Miss T Too. The leader was 2 1/2 lengths in front and then 1 1/2 lengths as she ran opening fractions of :23.19 and :46.20 through the first half-mile, but Shedaresthedevil was only a head behind as six furlongs went in 1:11.03.

After stalking in the three path, Geroux made his bid at the three-eighths pole, and Shedaresthedevil began to leave the field behind. Impeccable Style, who was one spot behind, began to give chase before Geroux's mount kicked into gear down the lane. Shedaresthedevil finished the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.50 and picked up an additional 20 points toward the Kentucky Oaks.

"She was waiting a little bit down the stretch. Last time at Churchill, she was a little more focused because she's there every day and here she didn't know (surroundings) too much," Geroux said. "She was waiting a little bit on horses and waiting for my signal to keep going. I gave her a few taps at the eighth pole just to keep her focused, and it was just a matter of how many lengths by which she was going to win."

"Big favorite. We expected her to run well," Cox said. "She'd been training the part out of her last race at Churchill, where she ran a big race. It was a good trip—she responded well. I thought she looked great at the quarter pole. Florent had to kind of reach around and keep her alert the last sixteenth of a mile. He said she kind of got a little lost late. But when he asked her the last sixteenth, she really kicked on. Overall, it was a big effort, exactly what we were looking for. I was real pleased with her."

Impeccable Style settled for second, followed by Bayerness, Fire Coral, Miss T Too, Gibberish, Spartanka, and Alandra.

Shedaresthedevil was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm out of the Congrats  mare Starship Warpspeed, also the dam of grade 3-placed Mojovation. She first went through the sales ring as a weanling, selling to Big Cuse Bloodstock for $100,000 out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment to the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Back in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale with Warrendale Sales, she was bought back for $20,000. She was offered at the Keeneland November sale again in 2019 as part of the Hunter Valley Farm consignment, and Flurry Racing Stables went to $280,000 for her.

From nine starts, Shedaresthedevil boasts a 4-2-2 record, which includes a victory in the March 7 Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. She has earned $501,768.