By Chris Duncan
The Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Unbeaten in five starts, Lady Tak has won on a sloppy track and on fast tracks, as a frontrunner and as a late-charging stalker.

To win Saturday's $500,000 Grade I Ashland Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, she'll simply need to run the best race of her young career, assistant trainer Scott Blasi said.

"She's done everything we've asked her to do so far," said Blasi, watching the filly on Friday afternoon for trainer Steve Asmussen. "Hopefully, she's up to the challenge."

The Florida-bred daughter of Mutakddim is coming off a 3 1/2-length win in the Fair Grounds Oaks. She sat in fourth for the first half of the 1 1/16-mile race, then surged to the front in the final four furlongs.

She dueled at the head of the pack in her previous four starts, and Blasi said the filly has already developed a versatility rare for a 3-year-old.

"She's adapted to about any racing situation. That's one of her strong suits," Blasi said. "You have to credit her for her intelligence."

Blasi admits she hasn't faced a group close to the quality entered in the Ashland.

The impressive seven-horse field also includes Shug McGaughey trainee Yell, a six-length winner of the Davona Dale at Gulfstream in February, and Elloluv, a Grade I winner who was runner-up to now-retired Bob Baffert trainee Composure in the Santa Anita Oaks.

"You have the top filly from the East Coast and the top filly from West Coast," Blasi said of Yell and Elloluv.

Another contender is Bonnie Miss winner Ivanavinalot, who's finished first or second in eight of nine career starts.

Elloluv is the only horse in the field with a Grade I win, the Hollywood Starlet in December. Trainer Craig Dollase said Saturday's victor becomes the likely favorite for the Kentucky Oaks.

"It's not my job to say, but it could be," Dollase said. "It's a pretty solid field."

Yell, with John Velazquez aboard, will start on the rail. Lady Tak in the No. 2 post, with Corey Lanerie in the saddle. Lanerie is replacing Lady Tak's regular rider, Donnie Meche, who's serving the final days of a 30-day suspension for substance abuse.

Unbridled Femme, a daughter of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled, will start from the No. 3 post, with Brian Peck aboard.

Ivanavinalot, with Mark Guidry in the saddle, will sit in the fourth position and Elloluv, with Robby Albarado riding, will start from the No. 5 slot.

Allspice, winless in three starts this year, will start from the sixth position, with Jon Court aboard. Holiday Lady, a Deputy Commander daughter and a runner-up in last November's Golden Rod, rounds out the field, with Jose Santos riding.