Starlet 2023 Picks

By Jarrod Horak

The road to Kentucky Oaks 2024 continues at Los Alamitos Race Course on Saturday, December 9, and I have included Starlet 2023 picks below. The Grade 2 event for 2-year-old fillies has a $200,000 purse and the six entrants will be traveling 1 1/16 miles on the main track. It is the 9th race on Dec. 9 and the top five finishers will earn Oaks points (10-5-3-2-1). 

Starlet 2023 Picks & Final Time Ratings 

Nothing Like You is trained by Bob Baffert and he saddled the winner of this race the last six years. This $190k Malibu Moon filly captured her last two starts and earned an improved speed rating in a nose victory in the Desi Arnaz Stakes on Nov. 18. The 9-5 morning line favorite stretches back out and should be forwardly placed from the inside post under her winning pilot Juan Hernandez. 

Pacific Rose is still a maiden after four starts. Doug O’Neill’s filly completed the superfecta in her last three starts and was only beaten 2 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Chandelier on Oct. 7. She was the beaten favorite in a maiden dirt route on Nov. 12. 

Flynn’s Chance ran an improved race in a show finish at one mile on dirt second time out. Richard Mandella’s $675k Medaglia d’Oro filly still has upside but probably needs an easier spot. 

Great Forty Eight removed blinkers and was clearly second best behind Nothing Like You on Oct. 14, and she graduated at 9-1 odds at one mile on Nov. 12. She is getting better for Tim Yakteen and this is her third start after a layoff. 

Chatalas stalked and scored in her professional sprint bow on July 30, and was a well-beaten fourth behind Tamara in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante second time out. She bounced back with a wire-to-wire win from the inside post in the Grade 2 Chandelier, and had early trouble and never got seriously involved in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last time. She should attend the pace under Antonio Fresu, and she fits with these on her best day. 

Grazia was 40 cents on the dollar in her sprint bow at Del Mar on Nov. 12, and she pressed the pace and edged clear in an easy 3 1/4 length tally under Juan Hernandez. She was wandering a bit in the stretch last time and should continue to advance for Bob Baffert. The $350k Uncle Mo filly gets the services of Flavien Prat.  

Starlet 2023 Picks

The Starlet is the ninth race in my Kentucky Oaks 2024 video series, and my top choices have two wins, two runner-up finishes, and a show finish. I will cover each points race on the road to the Oaks. Check out my Starlet 2023 picks video below.