Ashado Has Some Fun in the Mud

Ashado was unable to beat Halfbridled in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but since then, as Halfbridled’s career has unraveled, Ashado has moved to the head of the 3-year-old filly division.

Halfbridled, who hasn’t won since the Breeders’ Cup, was scratched Friday for the second time this year because of muscle cramps, and several hours later Ashado rolled to a 1 1/4-length victory over a muddy Churchill Downs track in the $572,000 Kentucky Oaks.

John Velazquez rode Ashado to her sixth victory in nine starts.

Island Sand finished second in front of 98,445, and Madcap Escapade, losing for the first time in five starts, ran third, beaten by three lengths.

Rounding out the order of finish in the 1 1/8-mile race were Victory U.S.A., Hollywood Story, A.P. Adventure, Stellar Jayne, House Of Fortune, Last Song, Silent Sighs and Class Above.

Favored Ashado, trained by Todd Pletcher, paid $6.60, winning in a time of 1:50 4/5.

Madcap Escapade, ridden by Jerry Bailey, who had four winners earlier on the card, led all the way until the mud-loving Ashado overtook her just inside the eighth pole.

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Five Kentucky Oaks jockeys, including the winning Velazquez, touting a charter airline service, wore advertising on their pants.... There’s an 80% chance for more rain today, which could result in the first off-track for the Derby since Go For Gin won in 1994.... Winners of other stakes at Churchill Downs were Kitten’s Joy in the American Turf, Lead Story in the Louisville Handicap, Lydgate in the Turf Sprint, Congrats in the Alysheba and Gingham And Lace in the Edgewood.