Three fillies who could not keep up in the Kentucky Oaks - Rayya, Classy Act, and Kelly's Humor - are back in action in Friday's fifth race at Churchill Downs, a second-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs.
Although Rayya performed the worst the trio in the Oaks, running 13th, she may go favored, in part due to her starting for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and with bettors perhaps willing to forgive her Oaks failure, when she blew the break. Earlier this year she won the UAE Oaks in Dubai and ran a distant second to Mendelssohn in the UAE Derby.
Classy Act, 10th in the Oaks, also has move-up potential, cutting back in distance after fading in graded routes over her last three races. She also gets blinkers back on after an experiment without them did not work out in the Oaks. She was second to divisional leader Monomoy Girl in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra a few starts ago in February.
Kelly's Humor, who ran eighth in the Oaks, stands to benefit if Rayya and Classy Act hook up early. With a top Beyer speed figure of 77, low for a stakes-winning filly that is twice graded placed, she likely needs pace assistance for her rally too be effective.