Interstatedaydream Duels Nest, Happy Soul in Ashland

With Zozos , Tawny Port , and Cyberknife  registering top-two finishes in key stakes over the past two weeks, trainer Brad Cox has gone from no Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) qualifiers to suddenly three.

Now the dual Eclipse Award-winning conditioner has an opportunity to add a Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) starter to his squad when he starts Flurry Racing Stables' Interstatedaydream  in the $600,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) April 8 at Keeneland. The opening day headliner of the spring meet at the Lexington oval, the Ashland offers qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks on a 100-40-20-10 scale to its first four finishers.

Though Interstatedaydream currently has no points, the public will expect her to pick up some in Friday's Ashland, where she figures to be among the favorites with Nest , Awake At Midnyte , and Happy Soul .

Last year at age 2, Interstatedaydream scored on debut at Belmont Park before a runner-up finish in the Adirondack Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course.

Following a long stay on the sidelines, her lone start at 3 was even better. Racing 1 1/16 miles for the first time in an allowance optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park March 13, she overcame being a little keen in the early stages to draw away for an 8 1/4-length victory. The Ontario-bred daughter of Classic Empire   zipped 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.31, posting a 102 Equibase Speed Rating.

She has recorded two works at Oaklawn since, including a bullet five furlongs April 2 in 1:00 1/5.

Cox, who won his first grade 1 in the 2018 Ashland with Monomoy Girl , has since added 29 more top-tier stakes victories. Among those wins are victories in the 2018 Kentucky Oaks with Monomoy Girl and the 2020 Oaks with Shedaresthedevil , who Flurry Racing Stables raced in partnership in the Oaks with Qatar Racing Limited and Big Aut Farms.

Florent Geroux, the regular rider of Monomoy Girl and Shedaresthedevil for Cox, returns in the irons on Interstatedaydream.

Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House's Nest and Gayla Rankin's Happy Soul enter the Ashland as existing stakes winners, though only Nest has Oaks points (20). Those were earned in winning the Dec. 4 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Feb. 12 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher trains the daughter of Curlin  , a full sister to 2021 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Idol . Irad Ortiz Jr. rides.

Pletcher won the Ashland last year with champion Malathaat , who returned to capture the Kentucky Oaks.

The Wesley Ward-trained Happy Soul makes her first start beyond six furlongs in Friday's 1 1/16-mile race. Following a runner-up finish in her debut at Keeneland last spring, the 3-year-old daughter of Runhappy   has won three straight races, including the Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park last summer and Feb. 19 Dixie Belle Stakes at Oaklawn.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez is aboard Happy Soul, the likely pacesetter.

Dixiana Farms' Cocktail Moments  figures to be rallying from behind under Corey Lanerie in the Ashland. Following a debut win last fall at Churchill Downs, she has closed for third-place finishes in the Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and the Davona Dale Stakes Presented by FanDuel (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

"It is a big step up for her, but it is not a big field," trainer Kenny McPeek said. "She is doing well and deserves a chance."

McPeek previously won the Ashland with Take Charge Lady  in 2002 and in 2014 with Rosalind , who dead-heated with Room Service .

Entries: Central Bank Ashland S. (G1)

Keeneland, Friday, April 08, 2022, Race 9

• Grade I
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $600,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 5:16 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Miss Mattie B (KY)	Joel Rosario	121	Robert B. Hess, Jr.	15/1
2	2Interstatedaydream (ON)	Florent Geroux	121	Brad H. Cox	5/2
3	3Awake At Midnyte (KY)	Mario Gutierrez	121	Doug F. O'Neill	4/1
4	4Nest (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	121	Todd A. Pletcher	2/1
5	5Sterling Silver (NY)	Jose L. Ortiz	121	Thomas Albertrani	15/1
6	6Happy Soul (KY)	John R. Velazquez	121	Wesley A. Ward	5/2
7	7Cocktail Moments (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	121	Kenneth G. McPeek	12/1
8	8Heavenly Hellos (KY)	Edgar Morales	121	Rey Hernandez	50/1