Churchill Downs race results from the 2022 Kentucky Oaks undercard races
It rained, and sometimes poured, in the lead up to the 2022 Kentucky Oaks.
But Friday's undercard races at Churchill Downs for the 148th running went off without a hitch. And a former Kentucky Oaks champion was among the day's big winners.
Here are the results, including winners and winnings, of some of Friday's races:
Former Kentucky Oaks champ Shedaresthedevil wins La Troienne Stakes
The Churchill Downs magic for 2020 Kentucky Oaks champion Shedaresthedevil came to an end in the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes on Friday.
The 4-to-5 favorite entered as the defending champion in the race and undefeated in five career starts at Churchill Downs. Shedaresthedevil, trained by Louisville native Brad Cox, led for most of the race before being caught in the stretch by Pauline’s Pearl. The second choice in the race at 9-to-5, Pauline’s Pearl finished the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:42.46, winning by half a length.
Pauline’s Pearl, trained by Steve Asmussen, earned her first win at Churchill Downs. The only time Pauline’s Pearl had failed to hit the board in 12 previous starts was a disappointing eighth-place finish the 2021 Kentucky Oaks, her only previous race at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Oaks 2022 live updates: odds, picks, TV channel, livestream, horses, lineup
Derby week: Will it rain on Kentucky Derby Day? Here's the forecast for the big day, Oaks and Thurby
Ava’s Grace finished third. Battle Bling finished fourth.
“I was very concerned going into the first turn, but (jockey) Joel (Rosario) did a wonderful move,” Asmussen said. “He noticed how slow the pace was and immediately got her into position down the backside. She had her chance, and she was wonderful.”
Since her win in the Grade 3 Locus Grove Stakes at Churchill Downs in September, Shedaresthedevil has failed to win in three starts. The second-place finish in the La Troienne Stakes echoed her third-place finish in the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park in March. In both races, Shedaresthedevil failed to hold an early lead down the stretch.
- Jon Hale
Favorite Arrest Me Red wins Twin Spires Turf Sprint
Coming from off the pace, 5-to-2 favorite Arrest Me Red won the Twin Spires Turf Sprint by 1 3/4 lengths.
The win added another turf sprint highlight for the resume of Lexington-based trainer Wesley Ward. It was the sixth career win in nine starts for the Arrest Me Red.
Arrest Me Red finished third in his only previous 2022 start, the Silks Run Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March. Before that, he had won three straight races, including turf sprint victories at Belmont Park and Aqueduct.
Arrest Me Red finished the 5 1/2-furlong race in 1:04.18. Bran finish second at 40-to-1 odds. Gregorian Chant finished third.
Brad Cox-trained mare finished sixth.
- Jon Hale
Brad Cox gets Eight Belle Stakes with Matareya
Louisville-native Brad Cox was beaming after his filly, Matareya, broke away to win the $500,000 Grade 2 Eight Belle Stakes.
"She stepped up and ran a huge race," said Cox, who trained last year's Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun. "I'm very proud of her."
4-to-1 favorite Pretty Birdie came out the gate hard and pushed the pace throughout the seven-furlong race. Matareya caught up to Pretty Birdie on the turn, then pulled ahead for good down the stretch to win in 1:21.08. Wicked Halo, trained by Steve Asmussen, finished third.
Matareya picked up her second straight graded stakes win and her first at Churchill Downs. She paid out at $4.00, $3.40 and $2.80. Pretty Birdie paid out $7.40 and $5.00. Wicked Halo's third place finish paid out $5.60.
The win gave jockey Flavien Prat his second graded stakes win of the day. Prat rode Bleecker Street to a win in the Modesty Stakes earlier Friday afternoon. Prat will ride Kentucky Derby favorite Zandon in Saturday's Run for the Roses.
"She broke well but I just got outran on the first part," Prat said. "Then we had a fair pace, was travelling well when I tipped her out. She was there for me."
- J.L. Kirven
New Year's Eve closes late in Edgewood Stakes
New Year’s Eve overcame the pack thanks to a kick down the last half-mile stretch in order to win the Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs. The Grade 2 race featured 3-year-old fillies racing across 1 1/16 miles for a $500,000 purse.
“I felt like everything came so perfect,” jockey Luis Saez said. “She broke pretty sharp. We (took) a little hole and she relaxed. When we came within half a mile, she gave me a pretty nice turn forward. It was a tremendous move to get.”
Spicer was the lead horse out the gate and led through the first half mile before My Philly Twirl took the lead for a moment. Spicer worked back towards the front of the pack, but started to slow down in the last half-mile stretch. That’s when New Year’s Eve and Saez made their move and flew past the crowd to win by three lengths.
“It (felt) pretty special,” said Saez, as he described what it was like to overtake the pack down the stretch. “I (felt) like I was just flying.”
New Year’s Eve finished with payouts of $31.20, $10.60 and $6.00. Second-place McKulick paid out $4.40 and $3.00, while third-place Kneeships paid $2.80
New Year’s Eve picked up her second win in 2022.
- Jonathan Saxon
Olympiad holds off Happy Saver to win Alysheba Stakes
Olympiad's stellar season continued Friday with a win in the $500,000 Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes.
The 9-to-5 favorite started the race strong and sprinted fractions of 24.21, 48.43 and 1:12.15. For most of the race, Weyburn gave Olympiad troubles before Happy Saver rallied past the field on the outside.
Olympiad regained his stride just enough to overtake the Todd Pletcher-trained Happy Saver, winning with a time of 1:41.60. Happy Saver finished second and Title Ready finished in third. Olympiad ran a with payouts of $3.80, $2.80 and $2.40.
"The more ground you give with Olympiad the more room he has to open up," jockey Junior Alvarado said. "It takes him awhile to get into his nice rhythm but then after that it's over."
This season has been special for the 4-year-old colt trained by Bill Mott. He's a perfect 4-0 in four starts with wins in the Mineshaft Stakes and New Orleans Classic.
"We thought he was a nice horse since he was a 2-year-old," Mott said." He missed a lot of time in his 3-year-old year, unfortunately. The patience that we were allowed to have with him and waited until he got right paid off. He's a really good horse competing at a top level."
- J.L. Kirven
Bleecker Street uses late kick to win Modesty Stakes
Bleecker Street was the 9-5 favorite coming into the Modesty Stakes, and she justified the oddsmakers’ confidence with a late kick to win the 1 1/8 mile race and the $250,000 purse at Churchill Downs.
“I thought it was good run for her,” jockey Flavien Prat said.
Mona Stella was the first out the gate and led for most of the race, but the pack started to catch up with her after the three-quarter-mile mark. That’s when Bleecker Street and Prat made their move. Bleecker Street kicked it into another gear to cover the final eighth of a mile and finished just ahead of Fluffy Socks and one-and-a-half lengths ahead of the rest of the pack.
A penchant for comebacks: Why Shirl's Speight could win 4th straight, claim Old Forester
“I found myself further back than I wanted to on the slow pace,” Prat said. “I found myself behind a horse I thought I had a chance (with). And from there, she really kicked home really well."
Bleecker Street ran a 1:50.10 in the Grade 3 thoroughbred race for fillies and mares aged 4 or older, with payouts of $4.00, $2.80 and $2.40. Second-place Fluffy Socks finished with payouts of $3.20 and $2.40, while third-place Hendy Woods paid out $3.40.
It was Bleecker Street’s fourth win in four starts in 2022 and raises her overall record to 6-0-0 in six career starts.
- Jonathan Saxon
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Oaks race results 2022: Pauline’s Pearl, Bleecker Street win
