Blushing K.D. Wins Kentucky Oaks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Blushing K.D., who is undefeated running against fillies, won the $584,700 Kentucky Oaks by 2 1/2 lengths Friday, springing a mild upset before 92,547, the largest crowd for the day before the Kentucky Derby.

Tomisue’s Delight ran second in the premier race for 3-year-old fillies, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Sharp Cat, who bumped another horse in the stretch and was disqualified to eighth place in the nine-horse field.

Glitter Woman, who had won four in a row, broke slowly and finished eighth as the 7-5 favorite, moving up to seventh after the disqualification. Storm Song, almost eight lengths behind Tomisue’s Delight, was moved up from fourth to third, followed by Majestical Moment, Buckeye Search, Must Sing, Glitter Woman, Sharp Cat and Anklet.

Blushing K.D., earning $362,514 for owners James and Sue Burns, paid $7.40 to win as the third choice, running 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 1/5. The race, on a fast track, was run in a thunderstorm that hit Churchill Downs about 10 minutes before post time.

Blushing K.D., ridden by Lonnie Meche and trained by Sam David, has now won seven of eight starts. Her only loss came in an allowance race against males at the Fair Grounds in January. The daughter of Blushing John and Lilac Garden, a Roberto mare, has now assembled an impressive record that includes wins in the Fair Grounds Oaks, the Fantasy and the Kentucky Oaks in her last three starts.

The Oaks was the biggest career victory for both David and Meche, 22, who has ridden Blushing K.D. in all her races.

Glitter Woman, who had been expected to contest the pace with Sharp Cat, was fifth after half a mile and never threatened.

“We had too much to do after getting left like she did,” said her jockey, Mike Smith. “My filly got upset with the crowd and the weather.”

Sharp Cat, kept out of the Kentucky Derby because her owner told trainer Wayne Lukas he didn’t want to run, ran fractions of 23 4/5 seconds, 47 4/5 and 1:37 and led until Blushing K.D. moved ahead at the top of the stretch.

“I think that with all the stuff going on out there, the lightning and stuff, she got a little excited,” said Corey Nakatani, who rode Sharp Cat. “I think she displaced her palate too, because at the half-mile pole I had a ton of horse and then she made a big noise and that was it. The winner shoved her [in the stretch]. My filly was in so tight, she needed a place to go.”