Ever So Clever Co-Highweight in Iowa Oaks

In her first race since an off-the-board-effort in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), Clearview Stables' Ever So Clever will take on an evenly matched field of nine other 3-year-old fillies in the $200,000 Iowa Oaks (G3) July 6 over 1 1/16 miles at Prairie Meadows. 

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Ever So Clever broke her maiden on debut as a 2-year-old. Although she went on to place in the Pochahontas Stakes (G2) last year, she did not break through to the graded level until her win in the April 14 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park one start prior to the Kentucky Oaks. 

The Medaglia d'Oro   filly defeated Chanel's Legacy by 1 3/4 lengths in that race at the Iowa Oaks distance. Ever So Clever, who has been training at Churchill Downs, will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.

Carrying 121 pounds, Ever So Clever is co-highweight in the field with Poindexter Thoroughbreds' Chanel's Legacy, who comes into the Iowa Oaks off a neck victory over Natalie's Mischief in the June 8 Panthers Stakes at Prairie Meadows, going one mile. The filly has won three other stakes and finished third in last year's Iowa Sorority Stakes in her debut, but has yet to score in a graded race.

The only Iowa-bred in the field, Chanel's Legacy posted bullet works at Prairie Meadows in May for trainer Lynn Chleborad. In her only timed work this month, the daughter of Dominus   posted a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 3/5.

Florida-bred Shane's Girlfriend is the only other graded stakes winner in the field and has a nine-pound advantage over the highweights. The daughter of Adios Charlie   won the $400,000 Delta Downs Princess Stakes (G3) in just her second start in November of last year. 

Trained by Doug O'Neill for ERJ Racing, W.C. Racing, and Dennis O'Neill, Shane's Girlfriend placed third in the Jan. 8 Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park behind Unique Bella, who romped by 7 1/2 lengths that day. In her most recent start Shane's Girlfriend placed fifth in the Feb. 25 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2), which was won by Kentucky Oaks contender Farrell.

Ervine Woosley and Ralph Kinder's Jordan's Henny will look to break through at the graded level for trainer Michael Tomlinson. The Henny Hughes filly placed second in the March 4 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) by a half-length and third in the April 1 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G3), both at the Florida track, before finishing 12th in the May 5 Kentucky Oaks.

Jordan's Henny comes into the Iowa Oaks off a June 4 optional-claiming allowance victory at Churchill, where she went from last to first and ran away to a 7 1/2-length score.

While the Ron Moquett-trained Swing and Sway continues to make progress, stepping up in class off a 4 3/4-length win in the Niagara Stakes at Finger Lakes Racetrack, the Timothy Hamm-trained Tapa Tapa Tapa will get a class break after losses in the Honeybee Stakes (G3) and the May 19 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2). The daughter of Tapit   won the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay in her first start of the year.

Multiple stakes winner Babybluesbdancing, allowance winner Pinch Hit, and maiden winners Natalie's Mischief and Mo's M V P round out the field.