Kentucky Oaks roundup: Leslie's Rose has final drill

Thursday morning saw three candidates for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks put in their final drills, led by Grade 1 Ashland Stakes winner Leslie’s Rose.

Scheduled to work beneath the Twin Spires Friday morning for the Kentucky Oaks are Tarifa, Thorpedo Anna, Gin Gin, Into Champagne, Ways and Means and Manama Gold.

Gin Gin, Tarifa.  Gin Gin along with Tarifa both galloped about 1 1/2 miles Thursday at 7:30 a.m.

Both fillies are scheduled to work Friday at 7:30 a.m.

Into Champagne. Gulfstream Parks Oaks (G3) third-place finisher Into Champagne had an easy mile-and-three-eighths gallop on Thursday morning for trainer Ian Wilkes. After her gallop, Wilkes said he’s expecting to breeze her on Friday.

“I’ll probably breeze her tomorrow, since it looks like there’s a chance for rain coming in later,” Wilkes said.

Just F Y I. Champion filly Just F Y I had a 1 1/2 mile gallop Thursday morning at 7:30.

The Bill Mott trainee is expected to be one of the favorites for the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

“She’s a beautiful filly,” Mott said. “She feels good most days in her training and gets a lot out of it.”

Leslie's Rose. Ashland (G1) winner Leslie’s Rose worked a half-mile in :49.40 on her own with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Getting into the work on her own shortly after coming on the track, Leslie’s Rose produced fractions of 13.20, 25.20 and 49.40 seconds, galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.40 and three-quarters in 1:16.20.

“She worked really, really good,” said Ortiz, who has been aboard Leslie’s Rose in all four of her starts.

Pletcher was pleased with the work.

“I was very, very happy with it,” said Pletcher, a four-time Oaks winner. “She got over the ground well and galloped out strong.”

Regulatory Risk, Ways and Means. Regulatory Risk and Ways and Means both galloped a mile and half for trainer Chad Brown.

Ways and Means galloped under Peter Roman before the first morning harrow break and is scheduled to work at 7:30 Friday morning.

Regulatory Risk galloped at 7:30 with Gudiel Alvarez in the boot and is scheduled to work Saturday at 7:30 with Jose Ortiz up.

Tapit Jenallie. Tapit Jenallie breezed a half-mile on Thursday morning in preparation for the Oaks. Jockey Manny Esquivel guided the homebred daughter of Tapit for trainer Eddie Milligan Jr., and will get the call to ride her in the Oaks.

Tapit Jenallie was timed in :49.40 seconds, with fractions of 12.80, 25, out in 1:02.40 and finishing up in 1:16.20.

“She worked really well,” Milligan said as he held the shank while she got her cool down bath. “She did everything we wanted her to do this morning. The time was kind of where I thought she should be today. She just needed an easy breeze without taking too much out of her.

“Manny said she worked well. He rode her the last two times at Hot Springs, and she’s gotten somewhat better, and has grown quite a bit. She’s really doing great.”

Thorpedo Anna. Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing’s Thorpedo Anna is scheduled to have her final major workout on Friday ahead of the Kentucky Oaks for trainer Kenny McPeek.

On Thursday, Thorpedo Anna galloped 1 1/2 miles. 

Where's My Ring. Where’s My Ring jogged a mile with exercise rider David Rodriguez aboard for trainer Val Brinkerhoff.

Winner of the Gazelle Stakes (G3) in her most recent start, Where’s My Ring is scheduled to work a half-mile in on Friday morning with Rodriguez up.

Also Eligibles. Manama Gold galloped a 1 3/8 miles under Jonathan Fabian Aguilar for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Pletcher said the UAE Oaks (G3) winner would work in the morning before making a decision on her Oaks status.

Pletcher’s other Oaks hopeful, Candied, worked a half-mile in company with graded stakes-placed Scalable.

With jockey Luis Saez up, Candied worked to the outside of Scalable and produced fractions of 12.60, 24.20, 36.20 and 47.60 seconds, galloping out in 1:00, three-quarters in 1:12.80 and seven-eighths in 1:27.40.

“Very good, a good solid work,” Pletcher said. “She switched leads on cue and galloped out strong. I hope she gets in.”