Birdatthewire Delivers Smooth Churchill Move
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Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) hopeful Birdatthewire continues to be as consistent in the mornings as she is in the afternoon, which is just fine with her trainer Dale Romans.
Watching from a covered backstretch tower that kept him out of the light morning rain Saturday, April 25 at Churchill Downs, Romans was pleased as he watched Forum Racing's Birdatthewire smoothly complete five furlongs 1:01 1/5 on the still-fast track.
"I've seen her work so many times, that's just how she goes; it's just fast enough," Romans said. "Everything she's ever done is just what you want, she's push-button."
Birdatthewire will enter the Friday, May 1 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) off a clear victory in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II) March 28. That improved her seasonal record to a pair of wins and a second in three starts, all at Gulfstream, as Birdatthewire won Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) in January and ran second in the Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II).
In Saturday's work Birdatthewire registered splits of :12 2/5, :24 2/5, :36 1/5, and :48 2/5. The daughter of Summer Bird galloped out in 1:14 2/5 and 1:28 4/5. Throughout the move, exercise rider Faustino Aguilar kept Birdatthewire three or four paths off the rail.
"We wanted to keep her off the rail a little bit and she looked relaxed," Romans said. "That will help a horse relax, when you keep them off the rail just a little bit."
Donegal Racing's Oaks hopeful Puca also was being considered for a Saturday morning work at Churchill Downs but with the rain falling, Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott opted to postpone the move to Sunday, April 26 or Monday, April 27.
About an hour before the possible 8:30 a.m. work time Saturday, Mott said he planned to breeze the Big Brown filly. But Donegal president Jerry Crawford, said Mott changed plans late. Instead, Puca galloped Saturday.