Everland works in company for the 150th Longines Kentucky Oaks. (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
Longines Kentucky Oaks Update/Edited
Foster Family Racing, William Wargel, R.K. Eckrich Racing and Maxis Stable’s Everland, winner of the Bourbonette Oaks (Listed) in her most recent start for trainer Eric Foster, walked the shedrow Thursday.
“She’s doing great, everything’s good, wish we could run the race today,” said Foster, who scored an upset win Wednesday in the featured $291,000 William Walker Stakes with 29-1 Joe Shiesty. Abel Cedillo, who was that winning jockey, also will ride Everland in the Oaks.
“We came in here ready, and we’re not going to change a whole lot,” Foster said. “We’re already fit. Gallop yesterday, walk today, win tomorrow.”
Everland went out for a gallop of about 1 1/16 miles Wednesday with her Oaks rider, Abel Cedillo.
“I know she’s going to run her race, if she transitions to the dirt,” said Foster, who has been in the horse business his entire life, other than about 10 years when he worked as a boilermaker. “We’re gonna find out Friday if she belongs. Going from the artificial to the dirt was my biggest concern. I always said that I’d never run in the Oaks or Derby just to run. Saying that, I think she has a legitimate shot.”
Foster claimed the daughter of Arrogate for $30,000 in a Dec. 30, 2023, race at Turfway Park.
“In claiming, it is a numbers game,” he said. “We try to pick the ones we like the breeding on, or the past performances.”
Everland would come back off the claim with a zippy win in a one-mile starter allowance by 3-1/2 lengths on Feb 10. In a follow up March 1 in the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes (Black Type), the filly had an improved start but not a lot of speed and missed third by a head.
Three weeks later Everland would find her true footing coming off the pace to chase own the leader Winnable and win the 1-1/16 mile Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway on the all weather track (AWT) by 1-1/4 lengths with an Equibase Speed Figure of 100. Starting her career on the Keeneland turf with lackluster results, Everland has only previously won on the AWT.
Foster couldn’t cite anything specific that he’s done which has made a difference in Everland’s rise from the claiming ranks to competing in one of the top graded stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
“There aren’t a lot of secrets out there,” he said. “She was getting beat, but I actually thought she put some effort in for most of her races. They’re the same as we are you give a horse three, or four, or five chances at the upper level, and most of the time there’s just one thing to do to get their confidence up.
“I try to do the minimum, to keep it simple for the horse,” he added. “We just put her on our program and try to keep her happy. All we do is take care of them, so they last a long time. I try to do everything to keep them healthy to where they can keep running.”
Everland drew the post 9 for the Oaks and was 44-1 on the morning line with Cedillo.
The 150th Longines Kentucky Oaks Field
