Plum Pretty nips St. John's River in Kentucky Oaks
May 6, 2011LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Plum Pretty took charge at the top of the stretch and then held off a late bid from St. John's River to win the $1 million Kentucky Oaks on Friday at Churchill Downs.
Jockey Martin Garcia and Plum Pretty stalked early leader Summer Soiree before Garcia sent his 3-year-old filly to the front at the turn. She opened up a sizable lead and needed all of it to beat St. John's River and jockey Rose Napravnik to the wire in the 1 1/8 mile race.
The win gave trainer Bob Baffert his second victory in the filly version of the Kentucky Derby. No trainer has won both the Oaks and the Derby in the same year since Ben Jones did it in 1952. Baffert will saddle Midnight Interlude in the Run for the Roses on Saturday.
Zazu finished third, just ahead of 2-1 favorite Joyful Victory.