Travel Column avenged a narrow defeat by Clairiere in last month's Rachel Alexandra S. (G2) with a 2 3/4-length victory over her rival in the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on March 20 at the New Orleans racetrack.

The Eddie Woods training grad is now headed for Churchill Downs, where she likely will be one of the favorites for the April 30 Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Much like she did in the Rachel Alexandra, Travel Column and jockey Florent Geroux pressed the pace, this time set by Souper Sensational. Geroux had a snug hold on his mount even as she went to the lead with a little more than a quarter-mile to run. Asked for her run shortly thereafter, Travel Column easily pulled away and was a clear winner in 1:42.75 for the 1 1/16-miles on a fast main track.

“She put me in race and I wanted to stay as quiet as I could,” Geroux said. “She showed a very nice kick and put them away pretty easy. We are excited. We know she likes Churchill and her versatility is her greatest asset. She can stay close, but in the Golden Rod (Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs, when she beat Clairiere by a length) she was trapped and overcame adversity.” 

Travel Column, who cost $850,000 as a yearling, has won three of five starts and earned $417,184 for Larry Best's OXO Equine LLC.

“When you’re trying to win races like the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks you have to keep moving forward,” trainer Brad Cox said after the win. “She’s a talented filly. She was an expensive yearling and it paid off. We can go to the last Friday in April. She puts a lot in her works, so I think six weeks will be a good thing for her.”

Travel Column's first two win, including the Golden Rod, came at Churchill Downs. She currently ranks first on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks challenge series with 132 points.