Kentucky Oaks Winner Abel Tasman Cuts Back in Acorn

Last seen completing a powerful rally to register a clear victory in the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at 1 1/8 miles May 5 at Churchill Downs, Abel Tasman will cut back in distance when the daughter of Quality Road   tries the one-turn mile of the Acorn Stakes (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park.

China Horse Club and Clearsky Farms' Abel Tasman will start from post 3 in Saturday's test, which has attracted a field of eight 3-year-old fillies. Abel Tasman is trained by Bob Baffert, who will be trying for his fourth Acorn victory after scores with Midnight Lucky (2013), Contested (2012), and Gabby's Golden Gal (2009).

Baffert said after watching front-end winners throughout the Kentucky Oaks day card on a sloppy and sealed track, he was concerned the track might play against his filly. All that worry ended when Abel Tasman rallied from last of 14.

"We knew she should run well but the way the track was playing that day we were up against it," Baffert said. "We were outside and checked into the first turn and then she was last, so I thought we completely had no chance at all; then she came around and won. The fast pace was in our favor. Our post and the way she went into the first turn wasn't in our favor."

As a juvenile Abel Tasman won the Starlet Stakes (G1) at Los Alamitos Racecourse. She entered the Kentucky Oaks off runner-up finishes in the Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1).

"She's such a quality filly. I think she's improving; she's better now than she was then. She'll have to show a little bit more speed," Baffert said. "I don't know how she's going to do going the one-turn mile but sometimes a good horse can overcome it. We're backing her up a little bit but she's been training really well. I haven't seen anything in her training that would make me think differently so I think she'd be very competitive."

After guiding Abel Tasman to victory in the Kentucky Oaks, jockey Mike Smith will be back in the irons for the Acorn. Smith won four Acorns in the 1990s with the latest coming aboard Jersey Girl in 1998.

While Abel Tasman shortens up from her Oaks win, Shortleaf Stable's Benner Island will stretch out off her win that same day at Churchill. The daughter of Speightstown   enters off a win under Javier Castellano in the seven-furlong Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Kentucky Trailer (G2) where she held off a rally from grade 1 winner Union Strike—also entered in the Acorn—by a head.

"It's a good race and it's the next step up," said trainer Brad Cox. "We think she can go a one-turn mile, that shouldn't be an issue. Hopefully with a good trip, she'll be very competitive. I'd prefer a good track and it looks like we're getting good weather; it looks like a beautiful weekend. She'll run on whatever. She's always shown up and given what she's got."

With Castellano riding Sweet Loretta in the Acorn, Jose Ortiz will have the mount on Benner Island from post 5.

St. Elias Stable's Sweet Loretta is the third grade 1 winner in the field, as she won last year's Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. A winner of four of five starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, the daughter of Tapit   opened the season with a three-length victory in the Adena Springs Beaumont Stakes (G3) April 9 at Keeneland.

Union Strike captured the Del Mar Debutante (G1) in her 2-year-old campaign. Trained by Mick Ruis, the Union Rags   filly drew the rail with jockey Brice Blanc making the trip east for the mount.

Trainer Mark Casse believes Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) winner Salty can bounce back from a rough trip in the Kentucky Oaks where the daughter of Quality Road finished fifth.

Acorn S. (G1)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 10, 2017, Race 4

• 1m
• Dirt
• $700,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 1:11 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Union Strike (KY)	Brice Blanc	121	Mick Ruis	8/1
2	2Florida Fabulous (FL)	Paco Lopez	117	David Fawkes	15/1
3	3Abel Tasman (KY)	Mike E. Smith	123	Bob Baffert	2/1
4	4Nikki My Darling (OH)	Tyler Gaffalione	115	Dominic Giglio, Jr.	30/1
5	5Benner Island (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	121	Brad H. Cox	6/1
6	6Tequilita (KY)	Luis Saez	121	Michael R. Matz	12/1
7	7Sweet Loretta (KY)	Javier Castellano	121	Todd A. Pletcher	5/2
8	8Salty (KY)	Joel Rosario	121	Mark E. Casse	4/1