Eye on the Oaks: In Tune

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Kentucky Oaks day at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
In Tune is part the continuation of the Unbridled’s Song legacy. A filly by the gray stallion out of a mare by Affirmed, In Tune has accumulated enough Kentucky Oaks points to rank third on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard.  
She carries the famed colors of Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, the family that owns Chanel and campaigned the legendary three-time Breeders’ Cup Mile-winning female Goldikova. 
BE THERE: See Wynonna Judd & The Big Noise LIVE at the 1st Annual Fillies and Lilies Party at the Kentucky Derby Museum on Oaks Night.
As with many of the Wertheimer family’s North American-based racehorses, In Tune is trained by 6-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher. In Tune has been ridden by 2013 Eclipse Award-winning jockey Javier Castellano in each of her three races. Despite her short résumé, the promising filly has become an unbeaten force and has earned $229,350. 
In Tune made her career debut in Gulfstream Park’s sixth race on Jan. 12. In this 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight race, she broke slowly from the third gate, but quickly moved up to establish the pace through an opening quarter-mile in :22.50 and the first half-mile in :45.59. She maintained her lead passing the finish line for a three-quarter-length score.
At the end of February, In Tune and Castellano returned to the races for an allowance/optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park. She stretched out considerably in distance as this race was 1 1/16 miles compared with her previous 6 ½ furlong debut.
In Tune would broke from gate five as the second betting choice, but she was be the prevailing force from start to finish. She set a fluid tempo with fractions of :23.57 and :47.26, and crossed the finish line 2 ¾ lengths ahead of her closest challenger. Under a strong hand-ride from Castellano, In Tune’s final time was 1:43.08.
Over a month later, In Tune had her most recent appearance in Gulfstream Park’s Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks. In the 7-horse field, In Tune was sent off as the overwhelming even-money favorite. In this 1 1/8-mile race, she surprisingly stalked in second through slow fractions of :24.03 and :47.67. She had to duel for the lead with House Rules midway around the final turn and through the homestretch, but she edged away to win by a neck in 1:50.19 and record her third straight Equibase Speed Figure of 92.
Though In Tune is lightly raced, she has shown admirable consistency and must be considered a strong contender in the Kentucky Oaks. Plus, her potential reaches beyond the racetrack. Both her sire and broodmare sire make her an exciting prospect for the breeding shed once her racing career is complete.
IN TUNE WINNING GULFSTREAM OAKS

Gulfstream Park photo