The two-turn challenge is the only obstacle possibly preventing She Be Smooth from heading to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with an unblemished record.
She Be Smooth faces six rivals in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), her final tune-up before heading to Kentucky. The GP Oaks is the companion event to the main event on Gulfstream’s Saturday card: the Florida Derby (G1). The GP Oaks winner snags 100 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, more than enough to guarantee a starting spot in the most important race of the spring for 3-year-old fillies. In all likelihood, She Be Smooth will be the one tucking those 100 points into her travel trunk.
She looms as the 7-5 morning-line favorite considering her 2-for-2 record, and the fact that she already decisively whipped return rivals My Miss Mo (5-1) and Haute Diva (20-1) in Gulfstream’s Davona Dale (G2) Stakes. Add in fact three other starters—Betty’s Pearl, Nasti Z, and Prom Queen—are maiden winners taking the big leap into graded stakes, and you have a scenario where She Be Smooth looms the obvious play.
Except for the tiny issue of two turns. She Be Smooth’s resume to date shows a pair of 1-mile victories while navigating only one turn at Gulfstream. Her maiden win in January was a solid 2 1/4 length score. Then came the Davona Dale last month, where she rallied from last to win by six lengths with plenty left in the tank.
The Gulfstream Park Oaks is a tad longer at 1 1-16 miles. More importantly, it will mark She Be Smooth’s first try around two turns. She gives every indication she can handle the challenge, but, as handicappers know all too well, assumptions about what horses might do can prove costly.
The two turns don't phase her trainer, Todd Pletcher.
“She has been impressive in both her starts here,” Pletcher said. “She seems to be steadily improving. I think the more distance, the better for her.”
Jockey Flavien Prat has the return riding call from post 6.
It all adds up. So, who is the biggest upset threat? That role falls to Just Singing (9-2), who will be making her fourth straight start in a two-turn race. The well-traveled filly arrives here following a pair of rallying third-place finishes in Grade 2 stakes: the Golden Rod at Churchill Downs and the Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds.
Hall of Famer John Velazquez will be aboard for trainer Kent Sweezey, who equips the filly with blinkers for the first time.
Let’s complete our top trio with Prom Queen (9-5) from the always potent Brad Cox barn.
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | M/L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Betty's Pearl | M Gutierrez | B A Lynch | 12/1 | |
| 2 | My Miss Mo | T Gaffalione | S A Joseph, Jr. | 5/1 | |
| 3 | Nasti Z | M J Husbands | S A Joseph, Jr. | 30/1 | |
| 4 | Just Singing | J R Velazquez | J K Sweezey | 9/2 | |
| 5 | Prom Queen | J Castellano | B H Cox | 9/5 | |
| 6 | She Be Smooth | F Prat | T A Pletcher | 7/5 | |
| 7 | Haute Diva | J Rosario | P L Biancone | 20/1 |
Last Updated on 03/25/2026
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
