Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert prepared the first leg of what could be a classic double when Plum Pretty won the G1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Friday.
And Plum Pretty gave Darley shuttler Medaglia d’Oro his second Kentucky Oaks win in three years following Rachel Alexander’s 20 length romp in 2009.
Plum Pretty (3f Medaglia d’Oro – Liszy by A.P. Indy) settled just off the pace in Friday’s $1 million classic before Martin Garcia sent her to the front in the straight. She held late closer St. John’s River (Include) to score by a neck. Third home Zazu (Tapit) was more than two lengths in arrears.
Plum Pretty was coming off a 25 length victory in the LR Sunland Park Oaks but was sent off fifth choice at 6-1. “That was awesome,” Baffert said. “We hoped she would run like that. She must have thought she was still at Sunland Park.”
Baffert’s only previous win in the Kentucky Oaks was with champion filly Silverbulletday in 1999. He will saddle up Midnight Interlude (War Chant) in the Run for the Roses on Saturday.
The last trainer to complete the Kentucky Oaks – Derby double was Ben Jones with Calumet Farms duo Real Delight and Hill Gail in 1952.
Plum Pretty was bred in Kentucky by Silent Indy Stables and DDS Stables. She is owned by John Fort’s Peachtree Stable and was a $130,000 buy at the Ocala Breeders 2YO Sale in March 2010.
Her dam Liszy retired winless in two starts but second dam Silent Account (Private Account) was a G2 winner of the 1985 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland.
Medaglia d’Oro (El Prado) covered a book of 97 mares at Darley Kelvinside at an $88,000 fee last year. Sheikh Mohammed bought him from Stonewall Farm shortly after Rachel Alexander’s victory in the Kentucky Oaks.