The Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks

Race 7:  The Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks (3yo):  Eight and one-half Furlongs

Paola Queen must first overcome the fact that she just broke her maiden last time out.  Typically a thoroughbred's first start against winners is their most difficult race, and Paola Queen takes on a Grade 2 field as well.  But, for some reason she's enticed Javier Castellano to ride today and that alone makes her worth a second look.

Double Entendre Here's what we know about this filly - NOTHING!  She broke her maiden in ultra-impressive style last time out around two turns, that's good.  But it was at Sam Houston which is several cuts below the quality of a Gulfstream maiden race, much less a Grade 2 like this is today.  She goes into a new barn, gets a new rider, and goes a new distance over a new track.  Way to many "news" for me to consider. 

Go Maggie Go Is another who just broke her maiden, in her debut.  But unlike the filly just to her inside she did it HERE and it looks like that was a pretty strong field she beat as they were well strung out.  Like the fact that she sat patiently off the pace and then blew by with authority.  Could be good enough in a field that lacks a legitimate superstar.

Mo' Green was a 17/1 upset winner going today's distance of a mile and a sixteenth last time out in her second start.  After the abysmal debut you have to wonder which filly shows up today.  First time winners today after running a slow race.

Gomo sports the purple and white silks of owner Paul Reddam, and if you don't know what that means, it's that she's from the same owner, trainer (and jockey) as today's Derby candidate, Nyquist.  The fact that trainer Doug O'Neill put her on the plane with his champion colt to run here instead of staying home to run in the Santa Anita Oaks may be a tip of the hand as to what they think of her ability.  In her last two dirt starts she was second best in a Grade 2 and when last seen was the winner of the prestigious Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland.  But that was back in October.  Can she fire her best shot today off a long layoff after shipping across the country?

Hold On Momma broke her maiden in December at Laurel, a cut below Gulfstream Park, and has since run fourth twice - the most recent her 3yo debut in a Tampa Bay allowance.  Would be a surprise.

Off The Tracks On paper she's the filly to beat.  Nobody must have been more delighted than Todd Pletcher when it was announced that unbeated superstar filly Cathryn Sophia was passing today's Oaks to run in next week's Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland.  That filly would have been my "BET of the Day" had she run today.  Instead Pletcher gets to send out his unbeaten filly into a Grade 2 where it would appear she has only one legitimate foe to worry about.  Off The Tracks debuted here last June with a decisive win as the 8/5 favorite.  That doesn't tell us much as the summer stock here is not world class quality like the winter runners.  But her local trainer sent her to the mecca of horse racing, Saratoga, to try the Grade 3 Schylerville on Opening Day and she won!  And won by daylight!  She was sent to the bench and wasn't seen again until February 21 when she won an overnight stakes race impressively.  Those facts would make her a legitimate favorite.  But after that victory she was moved from the local conditioner's barn into the care of top trainer Todd Pletcher.  I've seen oh-so-many times runners make their first start for "the man" and run lights out - it's almost as though he wants to make a point that the owners made the right decision to send him their thoroughbred.  Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez gets the call today.