Juvenile Fillies runner-up pointed to Kentucky Oaks

By: SPORTS NETWORK

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. That?s 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.