Several Oaks Contenders Throw Down Penultimate Works

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Several Oaks Contenders Throw Down Penultimate Works
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
Kathleen O. works at Keeneland

Two fillies under consideration for the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) put in their final Keeneland works for the race April 23 over a fast track.

Working at 7:30 a.m. ET after the first track renovation break, Winngate Stables' undefeated Kathleen O.  worked a half-mile in :48 4/5 under exercise rider David Jego.

Following a few minutes later was Don't Tell My Wife Stables and trainer Keith Desormeaux's Candy Raid , who covered the same distance in :49 1/5 under jockey Rafael Bejarano. 

Kathleen O., the leading point earner on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 150 points from her victories in the Davona Dale Stakes presented by FanDuel (G2) and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), galloped out past the three-quarter pole under Jego, who has been her regular exercise rider all winter.

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"She picked it up and galloped out strong," said Anthony Hamilton, assistant to trainer Shug McGaughey. "We are in good shape. She's a happy horse—that's what you look for."

Kathleen O. worked a half-mile in :48 3/5 at Keeneland April 16 in her first work since winning the April 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks.

Hamilton said Kathleen O. will make the short trip to Churchill Downs April 25 or April 26. He said McGaughey, who won the Oaks in 1993 with Dispute, will arrive in Louisville April 27.

Candy Raid worked a half-mile in :50 2/5 last Saturday. She is 13th on the Oaks leaderboard with 51 points of which 50 came from an upset victory in the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park on synthetic in her most recent start April 2.

"This was her last work here," said Bejarano, who rode Candy Raid for the first time in the victory at Turfway. "She's feeling good. I got her out five-eighths in 1:02 and change."

Candy Raid is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs April 28 and have her final pre-Oaks work there.

Other Oaks contenders worked at Churchill Saturday morning, including Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbreds' Hidden Connection , who went five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 for trainer Bret Calhoun. 

Godolphin's  Nostalgic  breezed four furlongs in :48 4/5 for trainer William Mott and Jorge Abreu trainee Venti Valentine  worked four furlongs in :47 2/5 for owners NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds. 

L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds' Echo Zulu , is scheduled to work April 24 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Echo Zulu and Hidden Connection were separated by a nose when 1-2 in the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots March 26.

Echo Zulu, unbeaten in five starts, was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2021 after a 4-for-4 campaign that was capped by a front-running victory in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar.