North America’s second season sires are back in force for the countdown to the G1 Kentucky Oaks.

Vinery sire Congrats captured the freshman title from Bluegrass Cat (WinStar) and Bernardini (Darley) in 2010 and their fillies are already on the road to the Churchill Downs feature on Friday, May 6.

Bluegrass Cat filly Kathmanblu is trained by Ken McPeek and she finished her juvenile season with an 8 length victory in the G2 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs.  

Kathmanblu returned from a short winter break to win the LR Sweetest Chant Stakes at Gulfstream Park and followed up with a last-start victory in the G3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds.  

The classic trials continue this Saturday when Turbulent Descent (Congrats) and A Z Warrior (Bernardini) face off in the G1 Santa Anita Oaks over 1700m.

Turbulent Descent won the G1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes in December and trainer Mike Puype said she was in need of a hit-out when second in the G1 Las Virgenes Stakes (1600m) at Santa Anita on February 5.  

A Z Warrior makes her seasonal return to competition at Santa Anita.  The Bob Baffert filly was a front-running winner of the G1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park but she failed in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs.  

Besides A Z Warrior, Darley sire Bernardini will serve up his latest Kentucky Derby contender on Saturday when Stay Thirsty returns in the G3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.  

The Todd Pletcher trained colt was a five length summer winner at Saratoga Springs and then finished second in the G1 Hopeful Stakes at the Spa.  He was a well-beaten fifth behind stablemate Uncle Mo in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Bernardini’s front-line classic colt To Honor and Serve was third home in the G2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park last Saturday.