BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred My Miss Mo drew post six for the 152nd running of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, the premier race for 3-year-old fillies in North America to be run at Churchill Downs on Friday. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for Rich Averill of Bradenton, Florida and his Averill Racing; Bill and Terry Mathis and their Mathis Stable based in Oklahoma City; and Tristan de Meric of Ocala, Florida, My Miss Mo is one of 14 fillies that will go a mile-and-an-eighth in the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks. She will be ridden for the first time by Micah Husbands and is 20-1 on the morning line.

“Yes we are very happy,” Averill said of getting post six. “It got down towards the end [of the draw] and six and 10 were really the only good spots left and obviously, I was very happy with six. A buddy of mine asked me what [post] I wanted, three to seven and said I wanted somewhere between four and nine. We’re in the middle of those so I’m very happy.”

My Miss Mo, who arrived at Churchill Downs early Saturday morning from Joseph’s base in South Florida, has been second in her last two races, finishing behind Prom Queen after setting the pace in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream Park on March 28. Prom Queen has drawn post 10 and is 8-1 on the morning line for the Oaks.

Two starts back My Miss Mo was second to She Be Smooth in the one-mile Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream on February 28.

My Miss Mo is by Uncle Mo out of In a Dream, by Quality Road and was bred in Florida by Valerie Mastromaonaco, Tristan de Meric and the Uncle Mo Syndicate. She has one-win, a 12-length romp against special weight maiden fillies at Gulfstream in November, in five starts with three seconds. She has earned $148,030.

“I haven’t had a chance to really look at all the horses together, but she’ll be forwardly placed in the top three or four,” Averill said. “I don’t think the distance is going to be an issue. I think she’s gotten better with age. She’s gotten better with the distances. She’s an April foal, so she’s just officially now 3-year-olds. We knew she would be better with age and we think she’ll like more distance all along. 

“She shipped in this morning and she’s doing good. Hopefully, we get a good trip and everyone comes out healthy.”

Her last work was a half-mile breeze in :48.67 at Gulfstream on Wednesday.

“She worked very well,” Joseph said. Joseph plans to arrive at Churchill Downs Sunday.

Return to the April 25 issue of Wire to Wire