KENTUCKY OAKS: Jones already has one filly in winner’s circle

By MIKE HUTSELL
Mike.Hutsell@newsandtribune.com

May 02, 2008 08:54 pm

— LOUISVILLE — Larry Jones was already attempting to make a bit of history this weekend at Churchill Downs.
Now he’s got a chance to do something unprecedented.
Jones, who entered his top filly Eight Belles in today’s Kentucky Derby, saw his other prize 3-year-old filly Proud Spell roar down the rain-soaked homestretch Friday and pulled away for a victory at the 134th running of the Kentucky Oaks.
No trainer since 1988 has won the Derby with a female entry and Jones will attempt to become the first ever to claim both the Oaks and Derby with a filly in both races.
The last time any trainer won both races in the same weekend was Ben Jones in 1952.
“The last guy who pulled it off was a Jones, so that’s gotta mean something, right?” joked Jones. “We’re going to give it a shot. He didn’t do it with two fillies, but hey we’re the only one with that chance right now. I’m glad I’ve got the next 24 hours to even think it’s possible.
“Winning both, it really isn’t why we put the horse in the Derby. We felt like we could win the Oaks with either one of these horses and it turned out we were right.”
Proud Spell, who left the gate as the 3-1 post-time favorite, entered the final turn in a battle with front-running Bsharpsonata. But Proud Spell quickly separated herself from the pack at the start of the final stretch, leaving a trail of contenders in her wake in claiming the annual Derby Eve event.
“We were just doing the best we could staying up there,” said Proud Spell jockey Gabriel Saez. “The leader faded a little and we moved in front. Nobody could run us down from behind.”
Proud Spell topped second-place Little Belle by five lengths on her way to the win. Pure Clan rounded out the trifecta by placing third.
“Could not be more excited,” said Proud Spell owner Brereton C. Jones, a former Kentucky Governor. “What a win. We’re just thrilled with this horse, and association with not only the pedigree of the horse but the association with Larry and one of the great up-and-coming jockeys in America.
“I’m going to tell you today, this jockey will be in the Hall of Fame one day.”
Saez kept his horse inside the top five throughout the race, positioning it towards the front at the start of the second turn. Bsharpsonata faded after jumping to the start at the wire and no contender could mount a serious charge at the winner in the final stretch.
“She’ll do whatever we ask her to do when we put her out there,” said Larry Jones. “She’s just phenomenal and so is our jockey. I’ll argue with him how to ride a horse and when he comes back in the winner’s circle he’ll just be grinning at me to say I told ya so. He’s special.”

134TH KENTUCKY OAKS
WIN PLACE SHOW
Proud Spell 8.80 4.80 3.20
Little Belle 6.40 4.00
Pure Clan 3.80

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