Spain Reigns After Victory

Chris McCarron, warming up for his Kentucky Derby assignment today on Came Home, rode 20-1 longshot Farda Amiga to a 11/4-length victory Friday in the $562,100 Kentucky Oaks, two hours after Spain won another stake at Churchill Downs to become North America’s record female purse earner.

Spain, ridden by Jerry Bailey for owner Ahmed Salman and trainer Wayne Lukas, fought off Mystic Lady by 11/4 lengths in the $334,200 Louisville Breeders’ Cup Handicap to end an 11-race losing streak. Kept in training primarily to make a run at the earnings record, Spain picked up $207,204 to hike her total to $3.3 million and pass the retired Serena’s Song. The old record holder, who was elected into the Racing Hall of Fame last Tuesday, earned $3.2 million.

Lukas also trained Serena’s Song. “I have a soft spot for both of them,” he said.

Spain’s time for 11/16 miles was 1:494/5 as she registered her eighth victory--to go with nine seconds and six thirds--in 33 starts. De Bertie finished third in the six-horse field. Spain paid $8 as the second choice. Favored Forest Secrets ran fifth.

McCarron won the Oaks for the third time aboard a filly that had run her first four races on grass in California. Farda Amiga’s first dirt start was a fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Oaks, won by You on March 9.

“She was better that day than the two lengths she got beat,” McCarron said. “She got squeezed early, and then down the backstretch she started climbing after getting dirt thrown in her face.”

On a fast track, Farda Amiga ran 11/8 miles in 1:502/5, overhauling the 8-5 favorite, Take Charge Lady, inside the sixteenth pole. Victor Espinoza, the rider of Habibti, who was third, beaten by 21/2 lengths, claimed foul against Farda Amiga for interference in the stretch, but the stewards let the result stand. The winner paid $42.

You finished fourth, followed by Take The Cake, Ile de France, Ms Brookski, Imperial Gesture and Art Fair. Bella Bellucci was scratched.

The Brazilian-owned Farda Amiga is trained by Paulo Lobo, a 33-year-old Brazilian who formed a California stable 16 months ago.

Attendance was 101,923, third highest for an Oaks day.

Today’s forecast calls for a dry, partly cloudy day, with temperatures in the mid-70s, for the Kentucky Derby.... With only $251,953 in the win pool after Friday’s betting, Saarland is the 5-1 favorite. Harlan’s Holiday was also 5-1 after Friday, but had less bet on him than Saarland. After the first two came Came Home and Perfect Drift, both 7-1, and Johannesburg and Medaglia d’Oro at 11-1.