Wide Open Field for Virginia Oaks; Picks, Odds

No matter who’s in and who’s out of the $250,000 Virginia Oaks on Saturday, there are valuable qualifying points available for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 2.

Trainer Kenny McPeek entered a pair of 3-year-old fillies in the 1 1/16-mile Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs, but his morning-line favorite Gowells Delight could be a late scratch. McPeek also sends out Anonima, currently at 6-1.

Anonima has won twice at 1 1/16 miles but finished sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 23 in her first stakes race. The Sharp Azteca filly leaves from post 4 under Colby Hernandez.

The Oaks is a first-time points qualifier for the Kentucky Oaks offering 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers. A win would wrap up a berth in the Oaks field limited to 14 starters.

Gowells Delight (second in the Rachel Alexandra last out) may be the better of McPeek’s fillies, but the trainer could hold her out in favor of the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) at on March 22, a race that offers 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers.

The Virginia Oaks is the co-feature Saturday on a card that includes the $500,000 Virginia Derby, a Kentucky Derby qualifier on a 50-25-15-10-5 point scale.

Fondly, Early On also in the field

Fondly makes her second career start for trainer H. Graham Motion, winning her debut by four lengths at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 14. Fondly demonstrated her agility and speed by angling out of a tight spot and going on for the win. Irad Ortiz, Jr., has the call.

What looks to be a competitive field also includes Early On, coming in off a 5 ¼-length maiden win at Gulfstream for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Flavien Prat was named to ride the 8-1 choice.

Gowells Delight was the 3-1 top choice on the morning line. She drew post 3 under Brian Hernadez, Jr.

Post time for the Oaks is 4:25 p.m. ET.

The picks: 1 Fondly 2 Early On 3 Gowells Delight

The field for the $250,000 Virginia Oaks, from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:

1 Icona Mama (John Velazquez, Flint Stites), 8-1

2 Low Key (Mike Smith, Tom Amoss), 10-1

3 Gowells Delight (Brian Hernandez, Jr., Kenny McPeek), 3-1

4 Anonima (Colby Hernandez, Kenny McPeek), 6-1

5 Early On (Flavien Prat, Saffie Joseph, Jr.), 8-1

6 You’ll Be Back (Javier Castellano, Tom Amoss,) 9-2

7 Girl Math (Luan Machado, Rodolphe Brisset), 5-1

8 Fondly (Irad Ortiz, Jr., H. Graham Motion), 7-2

US Racing Team

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.