Meet Colby Wherry...R Heat Lightning out of Oaks

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THUNDERSTORM TUESDAY @ CARDINAL COUPLE:



"C-Dub" has been the Lady Cards
four year starter at shortstop.

-Wherry gets it done at shortstop

-R Heat Lightning out of Oaks

-A look at the Oaks.

With a quiet day ahead in women's sports at UofL, but a huge road trip ahead for Sandy Pearsall's softball team...WE thought we'd take a look at "Miss Steady" for the Cards...shortstop Colby Wherry.

Wherry, a senior out of Goodlettsville, TN.,showed up on the Louisville campus in 2008 after a successful four year stint at Beech High School...where she was all-district, mid-state and also a four year letter winner in basketball and soccer. She laid claim to the shortstop position and hasn't looked back since. She started all 54 games of UofL at short her freshman year and was named 3rd team All-BIG EAST. She held down the left side of the infield with another freshman...Chelsea Bemis...and was also named BIG EAST Player of the Week once.

Her sophomore year produced even better things. Named to the 2nd team All-BIG EAST..she led the nation in the "Toughest to Strike Out" category...with only 3 whiffs in 172 plate appearances. Colby was third on the team in batting...with an average of .366. She was also a Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Great Lakes Region team member.

The great success continued as a junior. Still starting in every game...she was one of the Cards most dependable hitters and named to the BIG EAST 3rd team. This year, she's currently third in batting average and part of a strong batting lineup that includes her four year teammate Bemis, Alicja Wolny, Hannah Kiyohara, Maggie Ruckenbrod, Taner Fowler, Katie Keller and Kristin Austin.

Wherry is majoring in business and the daughter of Randy and Angie Wherry.

Louisville takes to the road beginning tomorrow to finish regular season BIG EAST play against Georgetown and Syracuse. The Cards are currently in 4th place in the BIG EAST and will host the BIG EAST Tournament May 12-14 at Ulmer Stadium. Here's hoping the Louisville rain doesn't follow the Lady Cards to Washington and Syracuse.

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One of the favorites for the Kentucky Oaks...R HEAT LIGHTNING...is out of the race now. Trainer Todd Pletcher reports that the Grade 1 Winner was scratched after a workout when heat was discovered in her knee.



Todd Pletcher trained R Heat Lightning
to two wins this spring...but she's
out of the Kentucky Oaks



'We noticed back at the barn that she seemed to be a little off in her right front leg. We checked her and we could feel some heat in her right knee. We consulted with the owners and the decision was made to withdraw her from the race." Pletcher informed media.

She had won the Gulfstream Oaks and Davona Dale by a combined 15 lengths in her last two outings and was Paul's pick for the OAKS.

"It's a shame." Pletcher added. "A filly like this at the top of her game and with a chance to run in the OAKS." 

She has been taken to Rood & Riddle Hospital in Lexington for further observation. 

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So...who are the prime contenders for the $1 million race for three year old fillies now that R HEAT LIGHTNING has been withdrawn? WE'LL give you five names that WE'RE considering now:

1) DAISY DEVINE. Has to be the 'Cinderella' story of the OAKS. Purchased as a yearling for $5500 dollars by Andrew McKeever, she's been on fire lately in New Orleans...finishing second in the Silverbulletday Stakes and winning the Fairground Oaks.

Lilacs and Lace won the Ashland States by a
length and paid $99.40 to win under Javier Castellano.

2) JOYFUL VICTORY. If it rains on Oaks Day...forget about the rest of them. She's absolutely loving the sloppy track conditions here at Churchill during her morning works and trainer Larry Jones brings this filly in to Louisville after a almost nine length win in the Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn. She'll sit off the pace and swoop these if traffic allows. She's Sonja's pick.

3) KATHMANBLU. Turned in a very impressive work at Churchill Saturday...going five furlongs in 1:10.80. Toss out her 3rd place finish at Keeneland in the Ashland Stakes as the favorite...she's a dirt
runner, not poly track. Has run big at Churchill in the past..third in the Breeders Cup Filly Turf, won the Golden Rod stakes by eight lengths and took Sweetest Chant and Rachel Alexandria Stakes in addition.

4) ZAZU. Been training on the West Coast for trainer John Sadler and working six and seven furlongs impressively. Clocked a 1:24.20 at Hollywood last out. Finished second in the Santa Anita Oaks. Looks to be one of those horses that is getting ready to peak at the right time and getting stronger every day. Paul's new pick for the win after the defection of R Heat Lightning. California Girls...gotta love em.

5) LILACS AND LACE. Was the upset winner of the Ashland States at a handsome price and is trying dirt for the first time. We think she'll adapt well, though, to Churchill's surface....if breeding is any indication. Loves to stalk the pace and pounce at the end. She'll have plenty of speed to chase and has won three out of six lifetime races. Longshot special.

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We had a reader e-mail with us wondering about the status of former Lady Cards point guard Deseree "Dez" Byrd. We haven't heard anything about her lately...and she used to read CARDINAL COUPLE...so if you're out there Dez...drop us a line....or if anyone has an update on her...let us know at cardinalcouple@insightbb.com
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