Kentucky Oaks 2015 Notes (4-23-15)

Trainer Todd Pletcher plans to work his two Kentucky Oaks hopefuls Friday morning with race riders aboard. “John (Velazquez) will be on Angela Renee and Javier (Castellano) on Eskenformoney,” Pletcher said  of the fillies who galloped a little more than a mile and a quarter Thursday morning. “The time of the works will be determined. I am watching the weather.” Adele Bellinger was aboard both fillies Thursday morning, taking Eskenmoney out in Pletcher’s first set around 6 o’clock and Angela Renee during the 8:30-8:45 training period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders.

BIRDATTHEWIRE – Forum Racing’s Birdatthewire galloped a mile and a half under Faustino Aguilar after the morning renovation break. Trained by Dale Romans, Birdatthewire is scheduled to work Saturday.

CONDO COMMANDO – Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables and The Elkstone Group’s Condo Commando galloped 1 ½ miles after the morning renovation break with trainer Rudy Rodriguez aboard. “So far, so good,” Rodriguez said. “We will probably do something tomorrow; five-eighths or thre-quarters.” Joel Rosario has the mount in the Oaks.

FOREVER UNBRIDLED – Charles Fipke’s Forever Unbridled, who needs one defection from fillies under consideration for the Kentucky Oaks to gain a spot in the starting gate, galloped a mile and a half under Emerson Chavez early Thursday morning. Trainer Dallas Stewart plans to work Forever Unbridled early Friday morning with Chavez up.

INCLUDE BETTY – Brereton Jones and Timothy Thornton’s Include Betty jogged before 6 o’clock Thursday morning under exercise rider Leo Garcia for trainer Tom Proctor.

LUMINANCE/MAYBELLENE – Kaleem Shah’s Luminance galloped 1 ½ miles under Jorge Alvarez before the renovation break and Jill Baffert’s Maybellene jogged under Alvarez before the break. Bob Baffert trains both fillies.

OCEANWAVE – Gary and Mary West’s Oceanwave galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Santos Rivera for trainer Wayne Catalano. Catalano said he would “do something with her” in terms of a work Friday morning. Rafael Bejarano has the Oaks mount.

PUCA – Donegal Racing’s Puca galloped 1 ½ miles after the renovation break under exercise rider Jo Lawson. Trainer Bill Mott plans to work the filly Saturday, but could push the work back to Sunday because of weather. Junior Alvarado has the Oaks mount.

SARAH SIS – Joe Ragsdale’s Sarah Sis arrived at Churchill Downs from Arlington in Chicago shortly before 5:30 Thursday morning. A little after 9, Sarah Sis galloped a mile under exercise rider Mauricio Garcia. Trainer Ingrid Mason said the filly would work five furlongs at 8:30 Friday morning. Gary Stevens has the Oaks mount.

SHOOK UP – Regis Racing’s Shook Up visited the starting gate and then galloped under Mike Callaham early Thursday morning for trainer Steve Asmussen. 

 

The following is an early rundown of known possible starters in Derby Week stakes races, according to assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator Dan Bork:

$400,000 ALYSHEBA (GII) (Entries taken April 28; race May 1) – Call Me George, Honor Code, Noble Bird, Ride On Curlin. Possible: Den’s Legacy. 

$300,000 LA TROIENNE (GI) (Entries taken April 28; race May 1) – America, Frivolous, Molly Morgan, My Miss Sophia, Pearl Turn, Sheer Drama, Stopchargingmaria, Wedding Toast. Possible: Interest Free, Tiz Windy. 

$200,000 EIGHT BELLES (GIII) (Entries taken April 28; race May 1) – Ekati’s Phaeton, Fancy and Flashy, Lavender Chrissie, Mizz Money, Promise Me Silver, Streetheart, Super Saks, Taylor S. 

$150,000 EDGEWOOD PRESENTED BY FORCHT BANK (GIII) (Entries taken April 28; race May 1) – Lady Zuzu, Pangburn, Quality Rocks. Possible: B Rockett, Sweet Opportunity, Whimsicality. 

$150,000 TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT (GIII) (Entries taken April 28; race May 1) – Berlino Di Tiger (BRZ), Buster Rose, Channel Marker, Good Deed, Heitai, Positive Side, Power Alert (AUS), Something Extra, Undrafted. 

$500,000 WOODFORD RESERVE TURF CLASSIC (GI) (Entries taken April 29; race May 2) – Chocolate Ride, Finnegans Wake, Seek Again, Umgiyo (AUS). 

$500,000 CHURCHILL DOWNS (GII) (Entries taken April 29; race May 2) – Bayern, C. Zee, Pants On Fire, Private Zone. Possible: The Big Beast. 

$300,000 CHURCHILL DOWNS DISTAFF TURF MILE PRESENTED BY LONGINES (GII) (Entries taken April 29; race May 2) – Coffee Clique, I’m Already Sexy, Lady Lara (IRE), Maid On a Mission, Personal Diary, Sandiva (IRE), Solid Appeal, Strike Charmer, Tepin. 

$300,000 HUMANA DISTAFF (GI) (Entries taken April 29; race May 2) – Classic Point, Dame Dorothy, Judy the Beauty, Princess Violet, Sweet Reason, Sweet Whiskey, You Bought Her. Possible: Clearly Confused. 

$250,000 AMERICAN TURF PRESENTED BY RAM TRUCKS (GII) (Entries taken April 29; race May 2) – A Lot, Conquest Typhoon, Firespike, Force the Pass, Indianaughty, Metaboss, Tuba, Wireless Future, World Approval. Possible: Royal Son. 

$200,000 PAT DAY MILE PRESENTED BY LG&E AND KU (GIII) (Entries taken April 29; race May 2) – Competitive Edge, Conquest Bigluck E, Hillbilly Royalty, Pain and Misery, Toasting Master, Where’s the Moon.