Olly Stevens 'Praying' for Oaks Shot

In nine days, entries will be taken for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). For Qatar Racing’s Peace and War to get a spot in the 14-horse starting gate, eight horses with more than the 10 points she has attained will have to pass on the race.

With the thought in mind that a slim chance still exists, trainer Olly Stevens elected to work Peace and War early Sunday morning on the dirt at Keeneland.

“Why worry about rain and work on the turf when the Oaks is what we came for?,” Stevens said. “I am praying that we get in. If we get a shot, that is where we want to go.”

With exercise rider Tegan Clark aboard, Peace and War worked a half-mile in :47.60 with fractions of :12, :24 and :36 over a fast track.

Winner of the Darley Alcibiades (G1) here last fall to earn 10 points toward the Oaks, Peace and War finished last in the Central Bank Ashland (G1) on April 4 in her first race in six months.

“She has done well since the Ashland,” Stevens said. “She had a little skin infection and missed one day of training but had a nice work (last Monday). She did well this morning and I had her in :47 and a shade.

“It is frustrating. She was the fourth-ranked filly in the world last year and under the old system (of graded stakes earnings to get in the Oaks) she would be in the top 10. I know she is a good filly. Maybe I underestimated how taxing the dirt track could be.”

Stevens said Julien Leparoux would retain the mount on Peace and War, who would go to Churchill Downs “as late as possible.”

Peace and War also is nominated to the $200,000 Eight Belles (G3) at seven furlongs on the main track and the $150,000 Edgewood (G3) at 1 1/16 miles on the grass. Both races are May 1, the same day as the Oaks. In Kentucky, horses may be entered in only one race on a given day.

Keeneland’s 2015 Spring Meet now boasts two of the highest attendance figures in track history.

The 37,737 fans here Saturday, day of the $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2), represented the third-highest attendance. The mark surpassed the 37,193 attendance from the previous Saturday, April 11.

Today is the 12th day of the 15-day Spring Meet, which concludes Friday, April 24.

Dramedy’s 30-1 victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2) rewarded the confidence of his connections, who believed the horse would excel in his first start at 1½ miles. With Joe Bravo aboard, Dramedy held off Dynamic Sky by a neck to score the first stakes win of his career.

At trainer Gerry Aschinger’s barn after the race, owner John James of Dewey, Okla., reflected on winning the race before the third-largest crowd in Keeneland history and sharing it with his wife, Darlene.

“It was marvelous,” said James, who has been involved in horse racing since he bought a Quarter Horse in 1959. “I’ve raced all over the United States and won stakes races. There’s just something special about winning a graded stakes race at Keeneland with the type of crowd that’s like no place else.

“I don’t think I would have been any more elated if I’d won the Kentucky Derby.”

James said he would donate a portion of Dramedy’s $150,000 earnings from the Dixiana Elkhorn to a church in nearby Caney, Kansas, for its missionary work to build a church and drill a water well in Africa. The church’s pastor is a friend.

“I told her, ‘If I can get lucky enough to win this race, I’ll give you enough money to finish that church and stock it with food.’ She told me, ‘Well, I’m going to get the whole congregation to pray for you.’ They prayed for me Thursday night and Friday morning. So part of the earnings is going to a nice place.”

In his career, Dramedy has won four of 15 races and earned $260,037. By Distorted Humor, he is a 6-year-old half-brother to Grade 1 winner and sire Bluegrass Cat and is from the family of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver.

The Dixiana Elkhorn marked the first Keeneland win for Aschinger.

Keeneland racing analyst Tom Leach interviewed trainer Todd Pletcher yesterday after Rock Fall won the sixth race by nine lengths about that performance, as well as the morning work by Toyota Blue Grass (G1) winner Carpe Diem and his other prospects for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). …

Trainer Nick Zito said Frammento, fourth in the Toyota Blue Grass (G1), would work here Saturday in what he hopes will be a final prep for a start in the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). Frammento is 22nd on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard for the race that allows the top 20 point earners that pass the entry box into the starting gate. …

Trainer and co-owner Gail Cox said Something Extra, winner of the Shakertown (G3) here on April 4, would run next in the $150,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) on May 1 at Churchill Downs. …

Trainer J.R. Caldwell won his Keeneland debut when he sent out 8-5 favorite Defer Heaven to win Saturday’s second race. The 5-year-old Defer gelding was ridden by Jareth Loveberry, who scored his first Keeneland win in his second career start here. 

Five horses under consideration for Friday’s $150,000 Bewitch (G3) on closing day of the Spring Meet breezed Sunday morning. The Bewitch is a 1½-mile turf race for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up.

Working around the dogs on a “good” turf course were Antonia Autumn (a half-mile in :50), Tuttipaesi (IRE) (half-mile in :50.40) and Kitten’s Point (five furlongs in 1:03). Working on the main track were Caroline Thomas (half-mile :47.80) and Meri Shika (FR) (five furlongs in 1:03).

Entries for the Bewitch will be taken Tuesday, April 21. Other possible starters are Anipa (GB), Appealing Cat, Lots o’ Lex, Maximova, Stellaris, Tabreed (GB) and White Rose. …

Other turf works of note included the third- and fourth-place finishers from the Shakertown (G3), Undrafted and Power Alert (AUS), in preparation for possible starts in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) on May 1 at Churchill Downs. Undrafted worked five furlongs in company in 1:02.40, and Power Alert went a half-mile on his own in :48.80.

Millionaire Stephanie’s Kitten worked five furlongs on turf in 1:04 in company in preparation for an expected start against males in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) on May 2.

Military Day at the Races Presented by Marathon. During one of Keeneland’s most popular special events, Keeneland will host U.S. Army Ranger Sgt. First Class Cory Remsburg, a decorated soldier honored by President Obama in the 2014 State of the Union Address, and other military dignitaries. All active and inactive members of the military and their families receive free general admission with a military ID. A Military Family Zone at Brats & Brew on the first floor by the Equestrian Dining Room from noon to 4 p.m. will feature free food, live music and children’s activities.