New Orleans. LA (SportsNetwork.com) – Top Decile, second in the Breeders Cup
Juvenile Fillies, has the 2015 Kentucky Oaks on her calendar.
Trained by Al Stall Jr., Top Decile is stabled at Fair Grounds Race Course and
is back training after taking a vacation since dropping a three-quarters
length decision to 61-1 longshot Take Charge Brandi in the Juvenile Fillies at
Santa Anita on Nov. 1.
“She’s doing great right now,” Stall reported. “She got three weeks off by
design. There was nothing for her and we just gave her a little break before
bringing her here. As far as her races, things have been a little awkward for
her. She missed the break at Keeneland and what happened at Santa Anita with
the track and it having rained for the first time in six months. They had it
sealed up.”
The filly, owned by Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence, was second by a
half-length in the $400,000 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland after missing the
start. Rosie Napravnik, who retired after the Breeders’ Cup, was aboard Top
Decile for the 2-year-old’s first three starts.
“Rosie worked her a few times and – interestingly enough – the first thing she
said was that she was a route filly,” Stall explained. “I had thought she
might be a speed horse, but obviously Rosie was right. Thats why I waited for
the six and a half (furlong race) at Saratoga to get a little more ground
underneath her. Once we won that, we took a long look at the (Alcibiades) and
that’s how she ended up in there. There was (initially) no plan to go to Santa
Anita – she earned her way out there.”
Top Decile is likely to have two starts before the $1 million Kentucky Oaks on
Friday, May 1 at Churchill Downs.
“I will look at two races for her,” Stall confirmed. “It’s hard to dance every
dance. We’ll look at the Fair Grounds Oaks or Ashland and a race back of those
to get her started.”
With a win and two seconds from her first three career starts Top Decile has
banked $489,800.
