Kentucky Oaks 2016 Notes: Pletcher Puts Hopefuls Through Final Works

CARINA MIA – Three Chimneys Farm’s Carina Mia, 17th on the Oaks leaderboard, galloped after the break under Penny Gardiner for trainer Bill Mott.

DREAM DANCE – Stoneway Farm’s Dream Dance galloped a mile and three-eighths before the break under exercise rider Joel Dominguez for trainer Neil Howard.

Runner-up in the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII), Dream Dance is scheduled to work Saturday or Sunday.

 

GO MAGGIE GO – Mike Tarp’s Go Maggie Go galloped 1 ½ miles after the break under Tammy Fox for trainer Dale Romans.

Winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) in her most recent start, Go Maggie Go is scheduled to work Saturday, a move that could move to Friday given the weather forecast.

 

LEWIS BAY – Alpha Delta Stables’ Gazelle (GII) winner Lewis Bay galloped at 7 o’clock under exercise rider Gian Cueva for trainer Chad Brown.

Brown plans to work Lewis Bay Friday morning.

 

MARQUEE MISS – Joe Ragsdale’s Marquee Miss, 18th on the Oaks leaderboard, was scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs early Thursday afternoon from Keeneland. Ingrid Mason trains Marquee Miss.

 

MO D’AMOUR/RACHEL’S VALENTINA/THRILLED – Trainer Todd Pletcher put his Kentucky Oaks hopefuls through their final major works for next Friday’s race with works Thursday morning.

First to go at 6 o’clock was King of Prussia Stable’s Mo d’Amour. With Amy Mullen aboard and working in company with Noble and True, Mo d’Amour clocked a half-mile in :48.20. Fractions for the work were :13, :25, :36.60, :48.20 and a five-eighths out time of 1:00.60 and six furlongs in 1:13.60. The move, over a track labeled as “good,” was the seventh fastest of 22 at the distance.

Next up at 6:40 was Michael Tabor’s Thrilled, who worked in company with Grade I winner Curalina. With Ovel Merida aboard, Thrilled covered five furlongs in 1:00.20 with fractions of :13.20, :25.20, :36.60, :48.20 and out six furlongs in 1:14.20. The move was the second fastest of 12 at the distance.

After the break, Stonestreet Stables’ Rachel’s Valentina, working in company with Caribbean, clocked a half-mile in :47.80 over a track that was upgraded to fast.

With jockey John Velazquez aboard, Rachel’s Valentina posted fractions of :12.80, :24.80, :36.40, :47.80 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.80 and six furlongs in 1:14.20.

“I thought both Rachel’s Valentina and Mo d’Amour worked very well,” Pletcher said. “They got over the surface well, finished strong and galloped out well. I was very pleased with both.”

As for Thrilled, who is 21st on the Oaks leaderboard, Pletcher said, “She worked well, but it is probably a moot point as far as the Oaks. We will look at the ($150,000) Selene (GIII at 1 1/16 miles on May 15 at Woodbine) or the ($250,000) Black-Eyed Susan (GII at 1 1/8 miles on May 20 at Pimlico).”

 

MOKAT – JK Racing Stable’s Mokat jogged before the renovation break under exercise rider Martin Ruiz.

Runner-up in the Santa Anita Oaks (GI) in her most recent start, Mokat arrived at Churchill Downs at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon. Trainer Richard Baltas is scheduled to arrive in Louisville later Thursday.

 

NICKNAME/ROYAL OBSESSION/TAXABLE/TERRA PROMESSA – Trainer Steve Asmussen’s four Kentucky Oaks hopefuls had similar routines Thursday morning with visits to the starting gate and 1 ¼-mile gallops.

All this activity occurred before the renovation break with Carlos Rosas partnering Stonestreet Stables’ Royal Obsession and LNJ Foxwoods’ Nickname. Abel Flores was aboard Stonestreet Stables’ Terra Promessa and Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Taxable.

 

PAOLA QUEEN – Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Paola Queen, 15th on the Oaks leaderboard, worked six furlongs before the break in 1:13.60 under exercise rider J.J. Delgado.

Fractions on the move were :13, :25.40, :37.20, :49.60, 1:13.60 with gallop-out times of 1:27.20 and 1:41.

Trainer Gustavo Delgado was pleased with the move, noting the last quarter-mile in :24. “For me, that is good,” Delgado said.

 

VENUS VALENTINE – Rosemont Farm’s Venus Valentine walked the shedrow a day after working a half-mile in :49.40.

“She came out of the work in good shape,” trainer Tom Amoss said.

 

WEEP NO MORE – Ashbrook Farm’s Weep No More visited the starting gate after the break and then had an easy gallop under exercise rider Alex Gonzales for trainer Rusty Arnold.