Dual graded winner Tonalist's Shape (Tonalist) bypassed the Sept. 4 GI Kentucky Oaks in favor of running in Friday's GIII Charles Town Oaks. Victorious in the GIII Forward Gal S. and GII Davona Dale S. in February at Gulfstream, the chestnut was off the board as the favorite behind leading Oaks contender Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GII Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks Mar. 28. Returning to winning ways in Hollywood Wildcat S. in Hallandale May 15, she was fourth last time in the nine-panel GI CCA Oaks in Saratoga July 18. Tonalist's Shape sheds her blinkers for this cut back to seven panels.
'TDN Rising Star' Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map) captured Belmont's GI Frizette S. in October and was fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies a month later. The chestnut was last seen finishing fourth in the July 10 GIII Beaumont S. at Keeneland.
Hopeful Growth (Tapiture) also has enough points for the Kentucky Oaks and was entered in this race as a back-up plan, according to her trainer Anthony Margotta, so it is unclear if she will run. The dark bay scored a dominant victory in the GIII Monmouth Oaks last out Aug. 1.
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