Lite Light Hammers Field in Kentucky Oaks

Lite Light made light of eight other 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs Friday, cruising to a 10-length victory in the $318,900 Kentucky Oaks.

Lite Light’s victory was so convincing that there were suggestions that she might have been a worthy opponent against the colts running today in the Kentucky Derby.

But based on what trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said after the Oaks, it seems unlikely that Lite Light will be leaving her division to race.

“We haven’t talked about that (the Belmont Stakes in five weeks),” Hollendorfer said. “I like to keep fillies with fillies. That way they have a longer career.”

It is more likely that Lite Light’s next race will be at Hollywood Park.

Friday’s victory was the fourth in a row for Lite Light, the last two being the Fantasy at Oaklawn Park and the Santa Anita Oaks. Before the Santa Anita race, the Majestic Light filly was purchased by the family of rap star M.C. Hammer for an estimated $1.2 million. Hammer was unable to attend Friday because of a concert appearance today in London.

A crowd of 73,785, a record for Kentucky Oaks day, made Light Lite a heavy favorite, and she paid $3.80 to win, running the race in 1:48 4/5, two-fifths of a second slower than the track record.

Withallprobability, undefeated except in two races against Lite Light, finished second, a neck better than Til Forbid. After them, in order, came Nalees Pin, Risen Colony, Garden Gal, Ifyoucould- seemenow, Polish Holiday and Sweet Sarita.

Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Lite Light earned $207,285.

Derby Notes

It could have been an even bigger day for Corey Nakatani, a California-based jockey who had never won a race at Churchill Downs, but his mount, Itsallgreektome, was run down by Opening Verse and Chris McCarron in the last jump before the wire in the $192,400 Early Times Turf Classic, the race before the Oaks. Opening Verse broke Manila’s track record, running 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:47 1/5. Itsallgreektome finished second, three lengths in front of Pedro the Cool. . . . In another stake at Churchill Downs Friday, Fit for a Queen, ridden by Jerry Bailey, won the $156,200 Louisville Budweiser Breeders’ Cup by five lengths over Crowned, running 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.