Oaks Runners Kick off Pletcher's Breeze Day
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Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) contenders Angela Renee and Eskenformoney got in their final works before the May 1 test for trainer Todd Pletcher April 24 at Churchill Downs. It was a busy morning as Pletcher moved the pre-race works of multiple Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) hopefuls up a day due to pending rain.
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Pletcher was expected to work his Derby contingent Saturday, but instead opted to work Friday during the 8:30 a.m. EDT slot reserved for Derby and Oaks contenders, although he had his fillies out earlier in the morning.
Siena Farm's Angela Renee breezed four furlongs in :47 4/5 in company with maiden winner Curlina, with splits of :12 2/5 and :24 2/5. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 and carried on six furlongs in 1:14 2/5. The homebred Bernardini filly comes off a runner-up finish in the April 14 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland and won the Chandelier (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park last September.
StarLadies Racing's Eskenformoney went four furlongs in :48 2/5 in company with Stonestreet Stables' maiden Roberta Turner. Splits were :11 3/5, :23 3/5, and :36 flat, out in 1:01 3/5. Eskenformoney, by Eskendereya , exits a second-place finish in the March 28 Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II) and seeks her first stakes score in the Kentucky Oaks.
"I was very happy, they both went well," Pletcher said. "We will watch the weather and they may have easy jogs in the morning (Saturday)."
Also going Friday morning was multiple grade stakes winner Condo Commando, who breezed five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 under the watch of trainer Rudy Rodriguez.
"It was pretty much what we were looking for," Rodriguez said. "She looked like she was very nice and comfortable so hopefully that will take us there. She looked like she did it pretty good."
Rodriguez said he will consider one more short breeze in the days before the Oaks for the daughter of Tiz Wonderful, who registered splits of :12 2/5, :24 4/5, :37, and :48 3/5. She galloped out in 1:16 4/5.
With owners Gary and Mary West watching from the backstretch, Fantasy Stakes (gr. III) runner-up Oceanwave breezed five furlongs in 1:02 during the 8:30-8:45 a.m. time slot reserved for Oaks and Derby starters. The Harlan's Holiday filly registered splits of :12 4/5, :24 2/5, and :48 3/5 with a gallop out in 1:18 1/5.
"We just wanted to get a little air in her," said trainer Wayne Catalano. "She already worked last week so we didn't need much."
Joe Ragsdale's Sarah Sis completed five furlongs in 1:02 3/5 under jockey Forent Geroux. The daughter of Sharp Humor delivered fractions of :12 2/5, :24 4/5, :37, and galloped out in 1:16 4/5 for trainer Ingrid Mason.
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Also working April 24 was Charles Fipke's Forever Unbridled, who needs one defection to make the 14-horse field for the Oaks. The Unbridled's Song filly went five furlongs in 1:01, with splits of :12 1/5, :24, :36 1/5, :48 2/5, and out in 1:15 4/5. Trainer Dallas Stewart saddled Forever Unbridled to a third in the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) in her most recent start. She is out of Lemons Forever, the 2006 Oaks winner.