Double Up on Oaks After Ashland Thriller
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Room Service and Rosalind were so close at the end that even the stewards couldn't separate them. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
A thrilling 1 minute and 43.38 seconds wasn’t enough to determine the outcome in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland Race Course on Saturday as Rosalind and Room Service couldn’t be separated at the finish line.
After a lengthy review of the photo finish, racetrack stewards called the race a dead heat to produce two fillies on target for the Kentucky Oaks on May 2.
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.
Rosalind dropped to the back of the pack as the field moved into the turn breaking out of the starting gate. She was positioned third to last down the backstretch as the field stretched out, with Istanford and Resistivity setting a fast pace in the front. Down the backstretch, Rosalind and Room Service ran near each other with Room Service sitting behind the Rosalind a few lengths behind the leaders. Rosalind went wide on the turn and took the lead at the head of the stretch with Room Service in hot pursuit just a length or so behind. As the pair came into the final furlong, Room Service inched up on Rosalind, making one final lunge to get her nose even as the pair crossed the finish line.
THE ASHLAND PROVIDED PLENTY OF EXCITEMENT WITH A DEAD HEAT
Room Service paid $6.60 to win on a $2 ticket while Rosalind paid $5.
Thank You Marylou finished behind them in third.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Road to the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard
Santa Anita Oaks
Fashion Plate took a major step toward the Kentucky Oaks on Saturday when she blitzed home to win the Santa Anita Oaks, earning 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard.
Piloted by Gary Stevens, Fashion Plate led nearly gate to wire in the 1 1/16-mile race. She opened up about a length advantage during the early stages of the race with Honey Ride in second. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Ria Antonia started moving up in the turn from third, putting away Honey Ride as the field entered the stretch. But when Ria Antonia attempted to reel in Fashion Plate Stevens asked for more, and the filly responded gamely to win her second straight Grade 1.
Bajan finished third behind the pair.
FASHION PLATE SOLIDIFIED HERSELF AS THE TOP CALIFORNIA FILLY WITH THE VICTORY
The victory in the Santa Anita Oaks solidifies Fashion Plate as the top filly in California and one of the probable favorites for the Kentucky Oaks on May 2.
Fashion Plate went off at odds of 2.10-to-1 and paid $6.20 on a $2 win ticket.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Fantasy Stakes
Oaklawn Park also had a significant Kentucky Oaks prep on Saturday with Sugar Shock winning the Fantasy Stakes in front-running fashion. It is her first official graded stakes victory as she was disqualified and placed second in the Honeybee Stakes.