Watch: Pletcher trio leads Friday's Kentucky Oaks works

Six Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) probable entrants had their final works for next Friday’s $1.25 million race over a fast track.

Scheduled to work here Saturday are Kathleen O., Nostalgic, Cocktail Moments and Candy Raid.

Candy Raid – The Keith Desormeaux barn arrived Thursday afternoon, coming in from Keeneland. Don’t Tell My Wife Stables and Desormeux’s Candy Raid made her way to the track to gallop 1 1/2 mile at 7:30 a.m. EDT under exercise rider Alex Cano. Desormeaux reported the last-to-first winner of the Bourbonette Oaks will breeze on Saturday.

Led by Kirk Godby, Don’t Tell My Wife Stables will be present en masse: “They’re coming on a 747 – 100 of them from Dallas. Likely just for the day [Saturday May 8th],” Desormeaux said.

Cocktail Moments – Dixiana Farms’ Cocktail Moments galloped a mile and a half and is scheduled to have her final work for the Longines Kentucky Oaks on Saturday.

“She’s doing good coming into the race,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “She’s probably in the second tier of favorites, and has an outside chance.”

On April 22, she breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01.2 in her first work back since finishing second to Nest in the Ashland (G1).

Goddess of Fire, Nest, Shahama – Four-time Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer Todd Pletcher was “very pleased with all three” of his candidates for next Friday’s 148th running of the 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-old fillies.

Working first during the 7:30-7:45 a.m. EDT training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks runners was Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House’s Nest with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard.

Working inside of 3-year-old maiden filly Investing, Nest produced fractions of 24.2 seconds and 48.6 seconds and galloped out in 1:01.0 and 1:14.0.

“It’s 21 days after the Ashland (G1) and it was a solid work,” Pletcher said. “She finished good and galloped out strong.”

Working together were Red Oak Stable’s Goodess of Fire with Humberto Zamora aboard and KHK Racing’s Shahama with Oaks rider Flavien Prat aboard.

Shahama was on the inside with fractions of 25.4 seconds, 37.2 seconds, 49.2 seconds, 1:01.2 and out in 1:13.6, 1:26.2 and 1:40.4. Goddess of Fire had fractions of 25.2 seconds, 37.0 seconds, 49.0 seconds, 1:01.0 and out in 1:13.4, 1:26.0 and 1:40.2.

“I wanted them to do a little more than Nest,” Pletcher said. “They both finished well and galloped out strong.”

Echo Zulu – L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Echo Zulu came out to the track at 5:30 a.m. EDT and made her way through a routine gallop with regular exercise rider Wilson Fabian on board.

Assistant trainer Scott Blasi reported all went well. The undefeated 2-year-old Eclipse Award-winning filly is scheduled to breeze Sunday morning.

Hidden Connection – Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbreds’ Hidden Connection had her final move prior to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) with an easy half-mile move in 50.2 seconds under jockey Rey Gutierrez.

“Her work last week was great and today, even though it was easier, it was just as impressive,” Gutierrez said. “This is one of the best group of 3-year-old fillies that there’s been in recent years. There are six or seven of them who have been so impressive in their races leading up to the Oaks. (Hidden Connection) ran a super race against Echo Zulu in the Fair Grounds Oaks. She got a lot out of that effort and she was so close to winning. The Oaks is going to be super competitive not only with those two horses but throw in the fillies from New York, Florida, Secret Oath who ran a great race against the boys. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

This will be the first time the 26-year-old New York native will ride in the Kentucky Oaks.

“It feels like just yesterday I was in my cap and gown walking across the stage when I graduated SUNY-Courtland,” Gutierrez said. “I’ve been around horses my entire life with my dad (Luis) training at Finger Lakes. At the end of my senior year of college I decided to pursue my career as a jockey. It’s pretty amazing to be where I’m at today. I’m riding at Churchill Downs with a mount in both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby (Barber Road).”

Hidden Connection will have a scheduled walk day Saturday.

Kathleen O. – Winngate Stables’ Kathleen O. kept to her schedule, walking the track and then galloping 1 1/4 miles under David Jego at 7:30 a.m. for trainer Shug McGaughey, who won the 1993 Kentucky Oaks with Ogden Phipps’ Dispute.

McGaughey reported that owner Patrick Kearney would arrive Wednesday or Thursday. Kathleen O. is scheduled to work Saturday.

Nostalgic – Godolphin’s Nostalgic is scheduled to work Saturday at Churchill Downs, according to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

The Gazelle (G3) winner continued her normal training Friday with a 1 3/8-mile gallop with Penny Gardiner in the saddle.

Secret Oath – Briland Farm’s Longines Kentucky Oaks contender Secret Oath was one of the first horses on the Churchill Downs surface Friday morning for a one-mile jog and about one-mile gallop under exercise rider Danielle Rosier.

Turnerloose – Ike and Dawn Thrash’s Turnerloose had her final work prior to the Kentucky Oaks with a five-furlong move in 1:01.2 under exercise rider Edvin Vargas.

“She’s fit and ready to go,” trainer Brad Cox simply stated.

Cox has not confirmed a rider for the Oaks.

Venti Valentine – NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Gazelle (G3) runner-up Venti Valentine put in her final workout for next Friday’s Longines Kentucky Oaks, with Tyler Gaffalione aboard Friday morning during the period reserved for Oaks and Derby horses.

She worked five furlongs in 1:00.8, with splits of 13.0 seconds, 24.8 seconds and 36.8 seconds, galloping out to 1:14.0 for the six furlongs.

“That’s the way she gallops,” said Francisco Abreu, brother to trainer Jorge Abreu, who supervised the filly’s workout and was satisfied with her efforts. “The first part, she’s a little anxious, then she calms down a little. It was just a maintenance work for her; she had a strong final work was a week ago.”

In looking ahead to the Oaks, Francisco Abreu said, “It’s coming up pretty tough. It’s going to be a good Oaks. She’s had five starts, with two wins and two seconds. Now it’s just galloping, with some schooling, going to the paddock and going to the gate. All the work is done now.”

Jorge Abreu will be at Churchill on Saturday.

Beguine – Charles Matses’ Beguine worked five furlongs in :59.40 under jockey James Graham for trainer Danny Peitz.

Runner-up in the Fantasy (G3), Beguine would need four defections from the roster of likely Oaks entrants to make the field when entries are drawn Monday.