Time has run out for 3-year-old fillies to accumulate the points needed to make the starting gate for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1). As of last weekend, only three such opportunities still remained: the Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G2) on April 5; the Gazelle Stakes (USA-G2), also on April 5; and the Ashland Stakes (USA-G1), now to be run on April 6 due to weather conditions forcing cancellation of Keeneland racing over the weekend. (Quick update: La Cara won, with Take Charge Milady second and Muhimma third; all three have earned Oaks bids, with Muhimma getting the tiebreaker over other fillies with 50 points by earnings.)
In Southern California, Tenwa was expected to dominate a short field in the Santa Anita Oaks and she duly won, though not with the brilliance expected. Nonetheless, she had long since guaranteed herself a Kentucky Oaks berth and, barring injury or illness, will be among the favorites at Louisville. Ballerina d’Oro was in a different position. With only 20 points on her record, she needed to finish first or second in the Gazelle to move forward to Churchill Downs. She got the job done, gutting out a nose victory over Early On. That rival also assured herself of an Oaks starting spot with the 50 points she got for her second-place finish, giving her a total of 75 points; Ballerina d’Oro picked up 100, vaulting her to fifth on the Oaks leaderboard with 120 points.
Bred by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, Ballerina d’Oro is a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, already the sire of two Oaks winners in Rachel Alexandra and Plum Pretty and also the sire of leading 2025 Oaks candidate Good Cheer. She is the second foal of the Tapit mare In the Moonlight, whose first foal, the City of Light gelding Blue Light, is a solid performer at the allowance/optional claimer level. In the Moonlight produced a 2023 Gun Runner colt who has yet to race or be named and this year gave birth to a filly by Taiba.
Although In the Moonlight failed to gain a placing in five starts, she has excellent connections. Produced from the Carson City mare Moonlight Sonata, she is a half sister to 2008 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G2) winner Beethoven (by Sky Mesa), 2011 Indiana Derby (USA-G2) winner Wilburn (by Bernardini), and Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner La Appassionata (by Bernardini). In the Moonlight is also a half sister to Venetian Sonata (by Bernardini), dam of 2021 Las Virgenes Stakes (USA-G1) winner Moonlight d’Oro (by Medaglia d’Oro), and to A. P. Sonata (by A.P. Indy), dam of 2024 FanDuel TV Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes (USA-G2) winner Grand Sonata (by Medaglia d’Oro).
Moonlight Sonata was herself a good race mare, winning the 2002 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA-G3) and placing in three other stakes races. A half sister to 1999 Futurity Stakes (USA-G1) winner Bevo (by Prospectors Gamble), she is also a half sister to Vargas Girl (by Deputy Minister), dam of 2017 Kentucky Oaks winner and American champion 3-year-old filly Abel Tasman (by Quality Road) and of 2013 Dogwood Stakes (USA-G3) winner Sky Girl (by Sky Mesa).
Based on her bloodlines as well as past performance, Ballerina d’Oro should have no trouble with the Kentucky Oaks trip of 9 furlongs, and neither should Early On, a “cousin” of Gulfstream Park Oaks (USA-G2) winner Five G and fellow Kentucky Oaks qualifier Five G (“Mares on Monday: Five G Becomes Latest Contender for the Kentucky Oaks,” March 31, 2025). A daughter of 2012 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Union Rags, Early On is out of the Distorted Humor mare Sally O’Brien, whose half sister Triumphant (by Quality Road) is the dam of Five G. As discussed in connection with Five G’s pedigree, both fillies are from the family of another Belmont Stakes winner in Bet Twice, a half brother to their fourth dam, 1992 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1) winner Golden Treat.
La Cara, the latest entry to the Kentucky Oaks field as of two hours ago, should also have no trouble with the distance as a daughter of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense from the fine old Darby Dan family of Golden Trail. The same can be said for Take Charge Milady, who is by 2012 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Take Charge Indy out of a daughter of 2007 Florida Derby winner Scat Daddy, so at this point, a large field with plenty of legitimate contenders appears set for the “Lilies for the Fillies” on May 2. May the best and fleetest win.
In Southern California, Tenwa was expected to dominate a short field in the Santa Anita Oaks and she duly won, though not with the brilliance expected. Nonetheless, she had long since guaranteed herself a Kentucky Oaks berth and, barring injury or illness, will be among the favorites at Louisville. Ballerina d’Oro was in a different position. With only 20 points on her record, she needed to finish first or second in the Gazelle to move forward to Churchill Downs. She got the job done, gutting out a nose victory over Early On. That rival also assured herself of an Oaks starting spot with the 50 points she got for her second-place finish, giving her a total of 75 points; Ballerina d’Oro picked up 100, vaulting her to fifth on the Oaks leaderboard with 120 points.
Bred by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, Ballerina d’Oro is a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, already the sire of two Oaks winners in Rachel Alexandra and Plum Pretty and also the sire of leading 2025 Oaks candidate Good Cheer. She is the second foal of the Tapit mare In the Moonlight, whose first foal, the City of Light gelding Blue Light, is a solid performer at the allowance/optional claimer level. In the Moonlight produced a 2023 Gun Runner colt who has yet to race or be named and this year gave birth to a filly by Taiba.
Although In the Moonlight failed to gain a placing in five starts, she has excellent connections. Produced from the Carson City mare Moonlight Sonata, she is a half sister to 2008 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G2) winner Beethoven (by Sky Mesa), 2011 Indiana Derby (USA-G2) winner Wilburn (by Bernardini), and Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner La Appassionata (by Bernardini). In the Moonlight is also a half sister to Venetian Sonata (by Bernardini), dam of 2021 Las Virgenes Stakes (USA-G1) winner Moonlight d’Oro (by Medaglia d’Oro), and to A. P. Sonata (by A.P. Indy), dam of 2024 FanDuel TV Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes (USA-G2) winner Grand Sonata (by Medaglia d’Oro).
Moonlight Sonata was herself a good race mare, winning the 2002 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA-G3) and placing in three other stakes races. A half sister to 1999 Futurity Stakes (USA-G1) winner Bevo (by Prospectors Gamble), she is also a half sister to Vargas Girl (by Deputy Minister), dam of 2017 Kentucky Oaks winner and American champion 3-year-old filly Abel Tasman (by Quality Road) and of 2013 Dogwood Stakes (USA-G3) winner Sky Girl (by Sky Mesa).
Based on her bloodlines as well as past performance, Ballerina d’Oro should have no trouble with the Kentucky Oaks trip of 9 furlongs, and neither should Early On, a “cousin” of Gulfstream Park Oaks (USA-G2) winner Five G and fellow Kentucky Oaks qualifier Five G (“Mares on Monday: Five G Becomes Latest Contender for the Kentucky Oaks,” March 31, 2025). A daughter of 2012 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Union Rags, Early On is out of the Distorted Humor mare Sally O’Brien, whose half sister Triumphant (by Quality Road) is the dam of Five G. As discussed in connection with Five G’s pedigree, both fillies are from the family of another Belmont Stakes winner in Bet Twice, a half brother to their fourth dam, 1992 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1) winner Golden Treat.
La Cara, the latest entry to the Kentucky Oaks field as of two hours ago, should also have no trouble with the distance as a daughter of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense from the fine old Darby Dan family of Golden Trail. The same can be said for Take Charge Milady, who is by 2012 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Take Charge Indy out of a daughter of 2007 Florida Derby winner Scat Daddy, so at this point, a large field with plenty of legitimate contenders appears set for the “Lilies for the Fillies” on May 2. May the best and fleetest win.
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