Sprinters throw Oaks gate wide open

ANTE-POST FAVOURITE RUN JULIE RUN tackling colts and geldings in next Tuesday’s 12-furlong Jamaica Derby has flung Saturday’s Oaks door wide open to a gaggle of fillies, sprinter BANADURA being the only winner of three races among the lot hoping to stay 10 furlongs.

Only three of 13 declared - BUTTERCUP, PRINCESS FIANIE, and LADY LAUREN – have ever contested a route race, leaving the question of stamina hanging over the entire field.

BANADURA, an 8-1 upset winner ahead of stablemate COMEHOMETOME and RUN JULIE RUN in April’s seven-furlong Thornbird Stakes, has looked sharp at exercise. However, the Casual Trick-Esperanza speedster was exposed at a mile in the 1000 Guineas, blowing a fuse to finish fourth, 10 lengths behind runner-up COMEHOMETOME, after disputing the lead with RUN JULIE RUN.

Having not raced since the 1000 Guineas, two months ago, BANADURA will have a tough time staying the trip with SHE’S THAT GIRL working equally well in the mornings and coming to run from in front.

A speedy Sensational Slam-Palace Gold offspring, SHE’S THAT GIRL was denied a hat-trick by American COMMANDER Z on July 8 at six furlongs. Bred to sprint, SHE’S THAT GIRL will make a brave bid on the lead, which could turn the Oaks on its head, especially with stablemate O SO SMART set to close from off the pace.

On paper, champion trainer Jason DaCosta’s COMEHOMETOME appears the heiress to what would have easily been RUN JULIE RUN’s Oaks crown. Foaled by 2010 Governor General’s Stakes winner Heart of Gold, COMEHOMETOME closed for second behind RUN JULIE RUN in the 1000 Guineas, suggesting that she might be the second-best three-year-old filly at a mile and longer.

However, the Parsards could have an ace up their sleeves, BLU SENSATION, who has been playing second fiddle to RUN JULIE RUN since her impressive maiden victory at seven and a half furlongs late January.

Peter Parsard’s BLU SENSATION has faced his father’s RUN JULIE RUN in four of six races since getting off the mark – a non-winner-of-two event, followed by runs in the Thornbird Stakes, Portmore, and 1000 Guineas.

Prior to finishing 19 lengths behind RUN JULIE RUN in the 1000 Guineas, BLU SENSATION, a decent winner at seven and a half furlongs when last out on July 7, had finished a clear third to her classy stablemate in the Portmore at seven furlongs, closing past all but the first two, including COMEHOMETOME.

A half-sister to highly thought of BIG JULE, an in-utero who won three nine-furlong and 25-yard races up to overnight allowance, BLU SENSATION could very well be the Parsards’ trump card in hiding for the Oaks.