2021 Ashland Stakes Contenders & Odds
![2021 Ashland Stakes Contenders & Odds 2021 Ashland Stakes Contenders & Odds](https://i3.wp.com/img2.offtrackbetting.com/images/race-previews/bet-horse-racing-8.jpg?w=1217&resize=1217,380&ssl=1)
Shadwell Stable’s undefeated Malathaat and Harold Lerner, Magdalena Racing and Nehoc Stables’ Simply Ravishing headline a field of six 3-year-old fillies for Saturday’s 84th running of the $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
The Central Bank Ashland carries 170 points toward qualification for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on April 30 at Churchill Downs on a 100-40-20-10 scale for the first- through fourth-place finishers. The stakes will go as the ninth race on Saturday’s 11-race program with a 5:30 p.m. ET post time. First post time Saturday is 1:05 p.m.
A total of 34 fillies that have run in the Central Bank Ashland have gone on to win the Kentucky Oaks, most recently champion Monomoy Girl in 2018.
Entry | Horse | ML Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Curlin’s Catch | 8-1 | Chris Landeros 121 Lbs | Mark Casse |
2 | Pass the Champagne | 4-1 | Javier Castellano 121 Lbs | George Weaver |
3 | Simply Ravishing | 5-2 | Luis Saez 121 Lbs | Kenneth McPeek |
4 | Moon Swag | 10-1 | Adam Beschizza 121 Lbs | Brendan Walsh |
5 | Malathaat | 9-5 | Joel Rosario 121 Lbs | Todd Pletcher |
6 | Will’s Secret | 7-2 | Jon Court 121 Lbs | Dallas Stewart |
Favored at 9-5 on Mike Battaglia’s morning line is Malathaat, who is making her 2021 debut. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Malathaat closed her 2020 campaign with a victory in the Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct. Joel Rosario, who won the 2014 Central Bank Ashland with Rosalind (who won the race in a dead heat with Room Service), has the mount and will break from post five.
Trained by two-time race winner Kenny McPeek, Simply Ravishing (5-2) romped to a 6¼-length victory in last fall’s Darley Alcibiades (G1) before finishing a troubled fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The Central Bank Ashland will mark her 2021 debut.
Luis Saez, who has been aboard for all three of Simply Ravishing’s victories, has the mount and will break from post position three.
Four fillies have completed the Alcibiades-Ashland double with the most recent being Take Charge Lady in 2001-2002. McPeek trained Take Charge Lady.
Other to have done it are Silverbulletday (1998-1999), Optimistic Gal (1975-1976) and Doubledogdare (1955-1956).
Willis Horton Racing’s Honeybee (G3) winner Will’s Secret is the third choice at 7-2. Trained by Dallas Stewart, who won the 2019 Central Bank Ashland with Out for a Spin, Will’s Secret has won her past three races, including the Martha Washington (L) at Oaklawn Park. Jon Court has the mount and will break from post six.
The field for the Central Bank Ashland, with riders from the rail out, is: Curlin’s Catch (Chris Landeros, 8-1), Pass the Champagne (Javier Castellano, 4-1), Simply Ravishing (Saez, 5-2), Moon Swag (Adam Beschizza, 10-1), Malathaat (Rosario, 9-5), Will’s Secret (Court, 7-2). All starters will carry 121 pounds.
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