NEWS
Jody Slew back in mix for Fair Grounds Oaks
Posted: Sunday, March 21, 2010 6:38 PM
by Mike Curry
Jody Slew’s victory in the Silverbulletday Stakes (G3) in February at Fair Grounds stamped the Slew City Slew filly a contender for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), but trainer Bret Calhoun knows better than to take anything for granted in Thoroughbred racing.
He got a reminder last week when Jody Slew became cast in her stall and missed several days of training, but by Sunday Calhoun was optimistic she would make it to the starting gate for Friday’s $300,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and a rematch with Silverbulletday runner-up Quiet Temper.
"She jogged a mile and galloped a mile this morning and looked good doing it," Calhoun said Sunday morning. "She looked very happy out there, so we'll continue to take it day-by-day this week and not make any decisions [on the Fair Grounds Oaks] until we have to. But her performance today was very encouraging for us."
Jody Slew has won four of nine starts and scored consecutive stakes wins in the Tiffany Lass Stakes on January 23 (video) and the Silverbulletday on February 20 (video) in her two most recent starts. She closed with a sustained charge in the Silverbulletday to reel in pacesetter Quiet Temper in the final strides for a nose victory under Miguel Mena, who has the return call in the Fair Grounds Oaks.
Grade 3 winner Quiet Temper looked home free in the 1 1/16-mile Silverbulletday with a three-length advantage near the eighth pole, but she could not hold off the winner. She can make amends at the same track and distance in the Fair Grounds Oaks, which drew 11 three-year-old fillies.
A Quiet American filly trained by Dale Romans, Quiet Temper won the Boyd Gaming’s Delta Princess Stakes Powered by Youbet.com (G3) in December (video). She won an optional claiming race on January 3 at Fair Grounds before finishing fifth and second, respectively, in the Tiffany Lass and Silverbulletday.
The race also drew 2009 Tempted Stakes (G3) winner Ailalea, multiple stakes winners Camille’s Appeal, Sheer Beauty, Shezacrazygirl, and The Rumor’s True, and multiple graded stakes-placed winner Mambo Fever.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
