Kentucky Oaks Roundup: Feb. 17, 2020

Stay up to speed on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks with a weekly roundup of all the latest news and developments:

Changes on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard

The champion 2-year-old filly British Idiom suffered her first defeat when finishing second in Saturday’s Rachel Alexandra S. (G2) behind runaway winner Finite. The latter filly has now claimed three straight Road to the Kentucky Oaks prep races, climbing to the top of the qualification leaderboard with 70 points.

British Idiom ranks second with 50 points, while Swiss Skydiver (10 points) and Tempers Rising (7 points) sit 12th and 13th after rounding out the superfecta in the Fair Grounds Oaks.

Unfortunately, one name has departed from the leaderboard. On Monday, Martha Washington S. winner Taraz (10 points) suffered a fetlock injury while training at Oaklawn Park and was humanely euthanized.

On the Kentucky Oaks Work Tab

Auberge: Runner-up in the Santa Ynez (G2), Auberge worked a half-mile in :49.00 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Donna Veloce: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner-up went 4 furlongs in :49.40 on Friday at Los Alamitos. The Mar. 8 Santa Ysabel (G3) at Santa Anita is looking like a logical target for her 2020 debut.

Frank’s Rockette: Placed three times against graded stakes company, Frank’s Rockette sped a bullet half-mile in :48 on Feb. 17 at Payson Park. She's entered in Saturday's Any Limit S. at Gulfstream.

Lake Avenue: Unraced since winning the Dec. 7 Demoiselle (G2), Lake Avenue clocked an easy half-mile in :51.20 on Feb. 17 at Payson Park.

Tonalist’s Shape: The undefeated Forward Gal (G3) winner returned to the work tab with a half-mile in :49.57 on Monday at Gulfstream Park. Her next start is expected to come in the Feb. 29 Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream.

RELATED: Forward Gal: Champion Florida Princess

Wicked Whisper: Breezed 5 furlongs in an easy 1:02 on Friday at Fair Grounds.

Looking Ahead

The Road to the Kentucky Oaks will take a detour to Dubai this week, with Meydan Racecourse hosting the UAE Oaks (G3) on Thursday. The 1 3/16-mile race will award 85 qualification points to the top four finishers, including 50 points to the winner, a hefty prize that has attracted the Japanese raider Serein. A daughter of Uncle Mo out of the tough-as-nails Grade 1-winning mare Tiz Miz Sue, Serein is using the UAE Oaks as a springboard toward the Mar. 28 UAE Derby (G2) and, ultimately, the Kentucky Oaks.