KENTUCKY OAKS

(Grade 1)

FOR an incredible third time in eight years, Lovely Maria, a filly owned by the former Governor of Kentucky, Brereton C. Jones, trained by Larry Jones and by a sire standing at the Jones family’s Airdrie Stud in Kentucky, has proved a winning combination in the $1million Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

Ridden by Kerwin Clark, Lovely Maria, winner of the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes last time out, capitalised on a stalking trip, took control in the final furlong and held off a late bid from Shook Up who finished two and three quarter lengths back in second. Another Larry Jones-trained filly, I’m A Chatterbox ran on for third, just ahead of the favoured Stellar Wind.

The pace for the Oaks, which attracted a full field of 14, was set by multiple graded-stakes winner Condo Commando, who under Joel Rosario set the pace for the first six furlongs with Todd Pletcher’s Angela Renee and Lovely Maria never far behind.

Angela Renee took the lead on the far turn but was quickly engaged by Lovely Maria at the top of the stretch.

Lovely Maria quickened and never appeared threatened by Shook Up, who sat in fourth for most of the race. Third-place finisher I’m a Chatterbox was the only filly to make up ground in the final two furlongs.

It was the third Kentucky Oaks victory for Brereton Jones, owner of Airdrie Stud in Central Kentucky. He previously won with homebreds Proud Spell in 2008 and Believe You Can in 2012, both of whom are by the Airdrie stallion Proud Citizen.

“It never gets old,” Jones said of winning the Oaks again. “The good Lord has blessed us. All I can say is thank you to everyone who made this possible.”

“This is the first (Oaks win) that the filly wasn’t by Proud Citizen,” Larry Jones said. “So now I know I can do it with a different stallion. I do know (Brereton Jones) was a politician, but this guy is as real as it gets.”

Jones, who conditioned such stable stars as the Champion Havre De Grace, Hard Spun and countless others is also famous for galloping his own horses, and was pleased to announce Lovely Maria had trained extremely well heading into the Oaks.

“She kind of touted herself in the Ashland,” the trainer said, “and she’s one of those horses that doesn’t need to take her racetrack with her. You could put marbles out there and she’d probably run on it.”

The jockey Kerwin Clark, is a veteran rider at the grand age 56, he won his first Grade I with Lovely Maria in the Ashland in April and was overcome with emotion after the Oaks.

“I’ve been riding for 40 years and I won my first Grade I last month at Keeneland with this horse,” Clark said, through tears. “Then we win this race today. I am very blessed - blessed to have this horse, to have Larry Jones in my life and believing in me, to have (Brereton) Jones believe in me and stick with me.”

Robby Albarado, who rode the widely drawn Shook Up for Regis Racing and trainer Steve Asmussen, said the Tapit filly ended up with a great trip.

“She’s a good filly, and good races are in her future,” Asmussen said. “She was ready, and I loved how she acted, love how she ran. I wish she had won but I’m very proud of her effort.’’

Grade 2 Honeybee Stakes winner Sarah Sis was pulled up in the stretch by Gary Stevens and vanned off for precautionary reasons.

Trainer Ingrid Mason later reported Sarah Sis to be in good order the following day.