Kentucky Oaks 2014 Update - April 26
Asmussen said the three-time graded stakes winner who is undefeated in two starts at Churchill Downs would work Sunday morning with his second set shortly after 6 o’clock with Garcia to handle the breeze.
Rosie Napravnik, who has been aboard for all four of the filly’s victories in her six-race career, has the mount in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).
“All is good here,” trainer Doug Anderson said. “She wanted to do more this morning, but she did what we wanted.”
Anderson, who is part of the On Cloud Nine ownership group, bought Sugar Shock for $20,000 at Keeneland in September 2012.
“The main thing I liked about her was the pedigree,” Anderson said. “She’s by Candy Ride who is a very useful sire and her second dam is a Grade III winner. We thought she had potential and that’s why we bought her.”
Calvin Borel will have the mount in Oaks.
“She worked in company and went very, very well,” Callaghan said. “I got her in a minute and change. It was a nice maintenance move and she did it well within herself.”
Callaghan said the filly would walk tomorrow and then ship from her Southern California base early Monday.
“I will be flying in Tuesday,” Callaghan said. “She will probably jog Tuesday.”
Gary Stevens has the mount in the Oaks.
Clockers caught the pair in an equal time of :49.40 for the drill and assigned early splits of :12.20 and :24.40. The six-furlong out time registered at 1:15. The half-mile time was 34th best of 75 at the distance.
Regular exercise riders Humberto Zamora (My Miss Sophia) and Amy Mulen (Got Lucky) did the driving.
"Many of our horses work together," Pletcher noted. "These two have been on the same path. They both ran in the same race (Gazelle at Aqueduct April 5) last time, they'll run in the same race (Kentucky Oaks) Friday and they train together. It was a good move for them today. They both went off well and finished up well."
Unlike many other trainers, Pletcher often puts his work horses right back on the track the next morning. He said he would consider doing it again with his Oaks fillies.
"We'll check and see how they're doing tonight," the trainer said. "If all's good, we might put them on the track for a jog in the morning."
The owners of My Miss Sophia -- Bill and Terry Mathis of the Mathis Stable -- announced they are pledging a portion of any winning they might realize in the Oaks to a special cancer fund that is partnering with Churchill Downs.
In a press release, the couple stated:
"It's a tremendous honor to have My Miss Sophia competing in the 140th running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks. We are especially proud of Churchill Downs for raising cancer awareness while celebrating its many survivors. We are pledging to Bright Pink 10% of any proceeds My Miss Sophia receives for competing in this historic race. When she turns for home coming down the stretch she'll be running to support this most worthy cause."
The move was the 34th fastest of 75 at the distance.
“This was just a routine, maintenance breeze,” McPeek said. “She really didn’t need a lot. She actually went faster than we wanted her to in her last work at Keeneland.”
The Kentucky Oaks will be just the third start of the year for Rosalind, who ran third in an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park before finishing as a dead-heat winner of the Ashland Stakes (GI) at Keeneland.
“She’s
been drilling the feed tub,” McPeek said. “I don’t know if she’s doing
better than when she went into the Ashland, but definitely just as good.
Typically my best horses have peaked in their
third race of the year.”
Joel Rosario has the Oaks mount.
"Very well. She went good,'' trainer Wayne Catalano said.
Catalano expressed respect for likely Oaks favorite Untapable but is upbeat about challenging her Friday.
"She's
very talented.'' he said. "If the points system were different, she'd
probably be running in the Derby. She looked very good to me, a couple
of races that I saw her, pretty impressive races.
But obviously, she's a very nice filly, but they've got to run the
races. We like our filly. I wouldn't trade place right now with
anybody.''
Channing Hill, Catalano's son-in-law, has the mount.
Kiss Moon, who will be ridden in the Oaks by Victor Espinoza is scheduled to work Sunday morning on her own.
“She’s going to go by herself,” Vance said. “I don’t want a :58 (work).”
Trainer Bret Calhoun said no decision would be made on Fiftyshadesofgold’s Oaks participation for a couple of days.
“Right now I am leaning toward the Eight Belles (GIII on Friday),” Calhoun said. “I want to see how the rest of the field works this weekend and then we’ll make a decision.”
"The filly worked real good, came out of it good,'' trainer Dallas Stewart said."The main thing at this point is how they come out of it.''
Unbridled Forever began her career last fall at Churchill Downs, finishing fifth in a maiden race Oct. 27 before breaking her maiden Nov. 30. She ran seven furlongs in 1:21.91 to win by 5 1/4 lengths. She won the Silverbulletday at the Fair Grounds in her stakes debut.
With jockey Julien Leparoux riding, she posted fractions of :36.60, 48.80 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.20. The five-eighths work was the 11th fastest of 68 at the distance.
Leparoux said Thank You Marylou appears to prefer dirt to a synthetic surface.
"I think so,'' he said. "Yes. That's what I told Mike and Mr. Ramsey after the race last time at Keeneland.
I think on the dirt, she's going to be better, and hopefully, she runs good Friday.''
EMPRESS OF MIDWAY (No. 13) – Daniel Kramer and Rick Pitino’s Empress of Midway walked the shedrow Saturday morning, a day after working a half-mile in :49.80.