Dede McGehee's homebred ST. JOHN'S RIVER (Include) was bucking and playing in her stall Saturday morning, looking nothing like one would expect from a filly who passed every horse but one while weaving through the field in a million-dollar race. The bay lass recorded her third straight runner-up finish when just missing in Friday's Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.
"Look at her," trainer Andy Leggio Jr. said at Barn 43 as St. John's River watched another horse walking around the barn. "She's peeved that's not her out there doing that. She's in great shape."
St. John's River came within a neck of catching winner Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro), thanks in large part to a heady rail trip under 23-year-old jockey Rosie Napravnik that drew comparisons to vintage Calvin Borel.
"She gave her a great ride," Leggio said. "When she cut that corner turning for home I thought, we're going to win this race. But we just couldn't get there."
With a better start St. John's River very well could have won the race, but she spotted the field a few lengths by breaking to the right from her outside post.
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