Iowa Oaks Rematch for Thrilled and Family Tree

Some three months ago, Michael Tabor's Thrilled (Uncle Mo) bested Gary and Mary West's Family Tree (Smart Strike) by two lengths in the Plum Pretty S. at Sunland Park [video], and the two well-traveled fillies will meet again as the lowest morning line prices on the board in Thursday night's GIII Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows. The pair dominated from the outset in what essentially amounted to a match race in New Mexico, but will likely encounter more company with other proven speed horses signed on in Iowa.

Trainer Todd Pletcher shipped Golden Lad (Medaglia d'Oro) in to capture the GIII Cornhusker H. at the Iowa Festival of Racing last year, and looks to orchestrate another win with Thrilled. The bay won once from four starts on turf last year and closed out her season with an even second-place finish in the GII Demoiselle S. at Aqueduct Nov. 28. Thrilled added blinkers and tracked the early pace of Family Tree before forging clear to victory in the Plum Pretty Mar. 20 and recently ran third behind 'TDN Rising Star' and Queen's Plate hopeful Gamble's Ghost in Woodbine's GIII Selene S. May 15. Installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite, she will be ridden by Martin Garcia–who was incidentally aboard Family Tree in the Plum Pretty.

Family Tree emerged from that race in sharp form, easily annexing a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer at Churchill Downs May 6. She was last seen finishing second, beaten less than a length, by Ready to Confess (More Than Ready) after setting the pace in an allowance try over that same trip and track May 28. The chestnut returns to the care of Wayne Catalano after a stint in the Bob Baffert barn through the winter and spring.

Ready to Confess hinted at significant ability with a third-place finish behind the Steve Asmussen-trained pair of Terra Promessa (Curlin) and Taxable (Tapit) in the GIII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn Apr. 9, and turned the tables on the latter in her recent Churchill allowance score. Although the filly employed stalking tactics in that race, she has previously shown the ability to flash sub-:22 opening quarter speed.

Thursday's tilt also features a trio of accomplished fillies seeking to regain winning form, including the speedy Marquee Miss (Cowboy Cal). The bay annexed Oaklawn's Dixie Belle S. and Martha Washington S. over the winter, but recently has gone off form since being eased in that venue's GIII Honeybee S. Mar. 12. She was last seen tiring to eighth after setting the tempo in the GII Eight Belles S. at Churchill May 6. Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred Just Wicked (Tapit) finds herself in a similar spot after failing to hit the board in four tries following her win in the GII Adirondack S. at Saratoga last August. The gray is conditioned by Steve Asmussen, who previously won the Iowa Oaks in 1997 and 2009 with Winchell colorbearers Lucinda (Olympio) and Hightap (Tapit), respectively. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer sends out Feb. 6 California Oaks winner Kiss N Scat (Scat Daddy), who adds blinkers after three consecutive dull efforts at Santa Anita.

If current winning form is at a premium, J S M Equine's Alotta Skirt (Candy Ride {Arg}) looms as an intriguing longshot should a fast pace materialize. The $200,000 Fasig-Tipton March purchase broke her maiden at sixth asking at Keeneland Apr. 15 and recently made it two in a row with a hard fought allowance score at Churchill May 13.