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Kentucky Oaks fillies prep in the Gazelle at Aqueduct on Saturday

By NY Hot List staff | Friday, April 8, 2022

The $250,000 Grade 3 Gazelle at Aqueduct on Saturday provides this field of eight 3-year-old fillies a final chance to prepare and earn qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks which will be run on the first Friday in May. The Gazelle will be contested at a distance of 1 1/8 miles and offers points of 100-40-20-10 to the top two finishers.

The New York-bred Venti Valentine is just a neck shy of being unbeaten in four career starts. As a 2-year-old, she lost to the highly regarded Nest in the Demoiselle (G2) but came back in her 2022 debut to win the Busher at Aqueduct by seven lengths for trainer Jorge Abreu.

“We knew she had talent early on, and turning from two to three, you could see the right change on her,” Abreu said. “She got stronger, she was more focused, and she showed that in her last race.”

Venti Valentine is currently in eighth position on the Kentucky Oaks list with 54 qualifying points.

The $250,000 Gazelle (G3), Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 10.

(5) Venti Valentine is just a neck short of being undefeated in her four-race career. In the Demoiselle (G2) as a juvenile she was beaten by the talented Nest. In her 2022 debut in the Busher at Aqueduct, the New York-bred won by seven lengths. She is a half-sister to the 2019 Busher winner Espresso Shot who was also trainer by Jorge Abreu. (6) Classy Edition is another talented NY-bred and she was unbeaten as a 2-year-old for Todd Pletcher. In her first start of the year she ran second behind the currently undefeated filly Kathleen O. in the Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream Park. (1) Morning Matcha finished in the top three in all nine of her starts including the Busanda at the Big A in January. (4) Shotgun Hottie was transferred to the New York barn of trainer Bill Morey and won the Ruthless in February and then was second behind the top choice in the Busher.

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