LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 6 (UPI) -- Plum Pretty roared out of New Mexico and down the Churchill Downs stretch to win Friday's $1 million, Grade I Kentucky Oaks by a whisker.
St. John's River rallied stoutly from a pace-stalking trip and just missed catching the winner, and Zazu was a narrow third.
Plum Pretty, a Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, ran the 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:49.50 with Martin Garcia up for trainer Bob Baffert. The filly prepped for this race by winning the Sunland Park Oaks in New Mexico by 25 lengths. Prior to that, she had been third in two stakes races in California.
"That Sunland race is pretty tough," Baffert said with a smile in the Churchill Downs' winner's circle.
Plum Pretty started from the No. 12 gate and Garcia was able to tuck her in behind the leader on the first turn. By the top of the lane, she had surged to the lead, was well in front and had just enough to stave off the late challenge of St. John's River, with Rosie Napravnik up.
"Everyone talks about how long this stretch is," said Napravnik, one of the sport's rising young stars. "I just wish it was one nose longer today."
The Kentucky Oaks is the filly equivalent of the Kentucky Derby.
