Sharp Cat proves Lukas wrong in Kentucky Oaks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Blushing K.D., a 2 1/2-length winner of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, managed to drain the color right out renowned trainer D. Wayne Lukas' face Friday.

Leading up to the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, Lukas felt that his prized filly -- Sharp Cat -- belonged in the Kentucky Derby with the big boys. "The Run for the Roses," not "The Run for the Lillies" -- women only.

Lukas explained that Sharp Cat had won more career Grade 1 stakes races than any other horse on the grounds here this week.

He also said before the race that he hoped he wouldn't have to look back and regret Saudi Arabia Prince Ahmed Salman's decision to bypass the wide open Derby and enter the filly in perhaps the stronger of the two fields.

"That's not that far-fetched," Lukas said.

Well, he will regret it, no matter what happens Saturday.

AN ELECTRICAL STORM BEGAN about five minutes before Friday's post time for the Oaks, pelting the famed one-mile oval with slanting rain.

Then down the stretch, from a pack of horses that suddenly appeared out near-darkness, Sharp Cat veered outside and interfered with Majestical Moment.

Jockey Corey Nakatani used the left hand once and that's when Sharp Cat bumped Majestical Moment, ridden by Shane Sellers, to draw the obvious disqualification.

But Nakatani saw it as a chain reaction and pleaded innocent, claiming, "The winner (Blushing K.D.) shoved (Sharp Cat) ... she just wanted a place to go."

Sharp Cat had crossed the finish line third behind Blushing K.D. (7.40, 4.00, 3.40) and Tomisue's Delight (4.60, 3.60). Officially -- after a replay check upheld the DQ -- Storm Song (5.60) finished in the money.

"I think with all that was going on out there, the lightning and stuff, (Sharp Cat) got a little excited," said Nakatani. "I think she displaced her palate, too, because at the 1/2-mile pole, I had a ton of horse and then she made a big noise ... and that was it."

SHARP CAT DIDN'T HAVE THE only bad day. Glitter Woman turned out to be a badly beaten favorite, finishing seventh.

After a miserably slow start, Glitter Woman, with Mike Smith aboard, fought back near the lead before fading suddenly entering the stretch.

"My filly got upset in the gate with the crowd and weather," said Smith. "(The gate crew) had to get to her. Nobody has ever had to get to her. Then she just stood there when they kicked it.

"We spotted the field 10 lengths. She's such a competitive filly that she tried to make up 10 lengths with every jump ... You can't do that."

Meanwhile, Blushing K.D.'s trainer, Sam David Jr., was blue in the face from yelling.

"Once she got ahead," he shrieked, "I knew she'd be tough to run down."

The thunder and lightning sent a nervous chill through the 92,547 Churchill Downs customers before the start of the Oaks. Infield fans -- exposed to the elements -- scurried for cover.

Many of them missed the race.

If Lukas could've seen what was going to happen to his filly, he may have joined them.

Ray Buck is CBS SportsLine's national columnist.

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