Bellafina Named 2-1 Morning Line Favorite at Oaks Draw

The 2-1 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) morning line favorite Bellafina drew post 4 at the Oaks draw April 29 at Churchill Downs. Kaleem Shah's Quality Road  filly enters off three victories this season, including the April 6 Santa Anita Oaks (G1). Regular jockey Flavien Prat is named to ride.

Bellafina is expected to arrive in Louisville later today from Southern California.

Champagne Anyone and Restless Rider, who drew posts 10 and 14, respectively, were both listed at 6-1 by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. Six Column Stable and Randall Bloch's Champagne Anyone hit the board in two Oaks preps at Gulfstream Park before breaking through in the March 30 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm's Restless Rider has been no worse than second in seven starts and picked up a top-level score last fall in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

Champion Jaywalk, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), and Serengeti Empress, a dual grade 2 winner, are both 8-1.

Dunbar Road, a two-time starter who was second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks, is the first of two also-eligibles. Should she draw in, she will be the 5-1 second choice. She won her debut by 8 3/4 lengths going a mile March 3 at Gulfstream. 

The scratch time is 9 a.m. EDT May 3, the day of the Oaks.

Later April 29, BloodHorse.com will post a full Kentucky Oaks preview.

The full draw with morning line odds: 

(Post, Horse, Jockey, Odds)

1. Out for a Spin, Irad Ortiz Jr., 15-1

2. Chocolate Kisses, Julien Leparoux, 20-1

3. Lady Apple, Ricardo Santana Jr., 20-1

4. Bellafina, Flavien Prat, 2-1

5. Flor de La Mar, Joel Rosario, 20-1

6. Positive Spirit, Manny Franco, 30-1

7. Jaywalk, Javier Castellano, 8-1

8. Motion Emotion, Mike Smith, 15-1

9. Liora, Channing Hill, 20-1

10. Champagne Anyone, Chris Landeros, 6-1

11. Jeltrin, Luis Saez, 15-1

12. Street Band, Sophie Doyle, 15-1

13. Serengeti Empress, Jose Ortiz, 8-1

14. Restless Rider, Brian Hernandez Jr., 6-1

AE-15. Dunbar Road, Jose Ortiz, 5-1

AE-16. Point of Honor, John Velazquez, 30-1