Stonestreet Has Three of a Kind for Oaks

This time last year Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings' lone playing card in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) was as the co-breeder of 3-1 favorite Stellar Wind. This year Banke holds a very strong hand with three of a kind as an owner for the May 6 race at Churchill Downs.

The star of the stable, Rachel's Valentina, is "our baby" according to Banke. By Bernardini  , the bay filly is out of Rachel Alexandra, winner of the 2009 Oaks, and later the BlackBerry Preakness (gr. I) and Whitney (gr. I) on her way to Horse of the Year honors. Rachel Alexandra will be inducted into racing's Hall of Fame later this year.

Another contender is homebred Terra Promessa, winner of the Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) and Fantasy Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park this winter and spring. She is by Curlin  , who was campaigned by Banke's late husband Jess Jackson, who also purchased Rachel Alexandra following her Oaks triumph. Terra Promessa is out of the stakes-winning Missile Bay, by Yes It's True.

Banke's trio is rounded out by Royal Obsession, runner-up in the grade II Gazelle last time out at Aqueduct Racetrack. The gray/roan daughter of Tapit  —Rote, by Tiznow  , was bred by Marbat, purchased by Nat Rea's Regis Farms for $1 million as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling in 2014, then purchased by Stonestreet for $1.15 million at the 2015 Keeneland November sale as part of the Regis Farms dispersal. Rea has retained an interest in the filly, according to Banke.

Rachel's Valentina won the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course last September then was second behind champion Songbird in the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Keeneland. Off until the April 9 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I), Rachel's Valentina shook off Cathryn Sophia and Carina Mia in the stretch, but was just caught by Weep No More in the final stride.

"It was a tough field," Banke said of the Ashland line-up. "They may have moved (on the front end) a little bit sooner than I would have liked them to, but she was coming back off a layoff. It was a good effort. We were watching her closely afterward because she's very special; we don't want to overtax her."

As for making her first start in a grade I off more than a five-month layoff and then heading to the Oaks, Banke said:

"We thought she was a little light going into the Breeders' Cup and we wanted to have for the summer and later in the fall," she said. "We wanted to make sure she was 150% before we put her back in training. So we didn't feel the need to bring her back early. We actually weren't even planning on the Oaks, but she's put herself there."

Rachel's Valentina is trained by Todd Pletcher. Steve Asmussen, who will also receive a plaque at this year's Hall of Fame ceremonies in Saratoga Springs in August, trains Terra Promessa and Royal Obsession.

Banke is hearing good things about Royal Obsession.

"(Assistant trainer) Scott (Blasi) reports her mind is catching up with her body," she said. "She's sharp in her training now and I think she is on an upward trajectory. She's starting to put things all together."

Terra Promessa has won four of five starts, with all of her wins coming around two turns.

"She had a great time at Oaklawn," Banke said. "She reminded me of her daddy in a couple of her races, making a really good move through the stretch. She has a lot of grit; she's an improving filly. When we had all of our 2-year-olds at the training center she was one of those fillies we thought was among our best. Rachel's Valentina was another one of those. She (Terra Promessa) has been a great looking filly since she was a baby and she doesn't like to lose. With her determination she stands a pretty good chance."

Banke will make her way to Kentucky May 1 and will try to spend as many mornings as she can on the backside at Churchill Downs.

She's planned on about 40 guests for the weekend.

"We'll do our usual $1 and 50-cent Pick 4s," she said. "We'll have a great time. I think the race is kind of wide open, so we'll see."