Pletcher, Jones solid in Oaks

Trainers Todd Pletcher and Larry Jones have owned the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks for more than a decade. They have won eight of the last 13 editions of the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies and six of the last nine.

On Saturday at Monmouth Park, Pletcher and Jones – each of whom has four Oaks wins – will send out two of the top choices in the $100,000 race. Pletcher, who won the Oaks a year ago with Unbridled Mo, will start the lightly raced My Miss Tapit. Jones, who won the 2014 Oaks with Cassatt, has Proud and Fearless, who is coming off a hard-fought second in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks.

My Miss Tapit is 2 for 3 after suffering her first loss last out when fourth in the Grade 2 Mother Goose. The top two finishers in that race, Unchained Melody and Lockdown, would be heavy favorites if they were in the Monmouth Oaks.

My Miss Tapit, who was making her first start in 10 weeks in the Mother Goose, may hold an advantage in the Oaks since she has shown the ability to come from off the pace. Proud and Fearless, who has won three of her last four starts, figures to be part of the pace along with Grade 3 Indiana Oaks winner Overture, the stretch-out sprinter Who’s the Lady, and possibly Frank’s Folly.

Proud and Fearless is a daughter of Proud Citizen who was bred and is owned by Brereton Jones. Brereton Jones and Larry Jones (no relation) have won the Kentucky Oaks three times together since 2008 with Lovely Maria, Believe You Can, and Proud Spell. The latter two were both daughters of Proud Citizen, who stood at the Airdrie Stud of Brereton Jones before being euthanized in 2016.

KEY CONTENDERS

My Miss Tapit, by Tapit Last 3 Beyers: 86-84-76

◗ In her race prior to the Mother Goose, she outbattled Actress to win the restricted Game Face Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Actress has since won the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan and finished a close third in the Delaware Oaks.

◗ This will be her two-turn debut, but she seems suited to the distance.

Proud and Fearless, by Proud Citizen Last 3 Beyers: 90-91-69

◗ She reared up in the gate several times prior to the start of the Delaware Oaks, then battled with determination in the stretch and dropped a close decision to the promising It Tiz Well, who is 4 for 8 for Jerry Hollendorfer.

Overture, by Congrats Last 3 Beyers: 92-76-65

◗ She is coming off a careerbest race for Bill Mott, a frontrunning, one-length win in the Indiana Oaks. If Proud and Fearless is sent from the gate, she may settle into a good stalking position.

You Know Too, by Colonel John Last 3 Beyers: 87-72-57

◗ She ran very well to finish fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Delaware Oaks for trainer Michael Gorham. She attempted to come up the inside in the stretch, which may have hurt her chances.

LESLIE MARTIN/COGLIANESE PHOTOS My Miss Tapit, who has shown she can come from off the pace, is 2 for 3 going into Saturday’s Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks.