Puca Works Four Furlongs in Oaks Prep

Donegal Racing's Puca put in her final Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) workout April 26, breezing four furlongs in :48 1/5 in company with stablemate Japan at Churchill Downs..



The 3-year-old daughter of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Big Brown   worked in splits of :12 3/5, :24 4/5, and :36 2/5. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 1/5. The move was the fifth- fastest of 55 horses working the distance on a cloudy, brisk morning at Churchill Downs.

"It was very similar to the work a week ago," trainer Bill Mott said. "She went much the same. I was hoping that she'd work as well or better and she looked like she finished up her work nicely, but she was all up on the bridle and willing to do it, moving well, galloped out well, came back good."



This was the second straight time Puca worked in company with Japan, who is entered in Thursday's eighth race.



"I put him (Japan) in behind just because he needs a little education," Mott said. "He's a little green. They worked nicely together. I thought they were a good team last week and it worked out well so we just did the same thing again. Nothing fancy."

Bred in Kentucky by Jerry Crawford and Paul Pompa Jr., Puca was purchased for $90,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale.



The filly blew away the field in a 16-length triumph to break her maiden in her third start last fall at Belmont Park. In her most recent outing, the filly who has a 1-1-1 record in six starts finished second to Condo Commando in the Gazelle (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack.



"If you look at speed figures she maybe hasn't been as good as some of the others but visually, between the Breeders' Cup and her last race being pretty good...if she gets an honest pace that could help," Mott said.