Baffert May Not Enter Filly in Kentucky Oaks
Image:
Description:
After watching the two fillies he's considering for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) complete workouts Monday, April 27 at Churchill Downs, trainer Bob Baffert said he was leaning toward not entering either Luminance or Maybellene in the 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-old fillies.
In works on what Baffert called a deep Churchill surface Monday, Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) runner-up Luminance completed five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 and Maybellene, winner of the Sunland Park Oaks via disqualification, breezed four furlongs in :48 4/5.
"I might not run a horse in the Oaks; coming here I wasn't really sure," Baffert said. "It's a tough Oaks and I might not enter. The works were OK, but I don't know if they're ready for that yet. There's a lot of races coming up. They're doing well but I want them to be more competitive; it's a really tough Oaks field and I'll pick another spot."
Kaleem Shah's Luminance finished 5 1/4 lengths behind Stellar Wind in the Santa Anita Oaks April 4. On Monday, the daughter of Tale of the Cat worked early at Churchill, before the 8:30-8:45 a.m. time reserved for Oaks and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) hopefuls.
The work by Luminance ranked just 22nd of the 32 horses to work at the distance Monday. She was credited with splits of :12 4/5, :25 4/5, 38 2/5, and :50 3/5. She ran out in 1:15 3/5.
Jill Baffert's Maybellene, by Lookin At Lucky , secured the first stakes win of her career when she finished second in the Sunland Park Oaks but was placed first through the disqualification for interference of Callback, who was placed fourth. Working during the 8:30 a.m. time slot Monday, Maybellene's work ranked ninth of 35 at the distance.
Working with San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) winner Lord Nelson, Maybellene was credited with splits of :24 1/5 and :36 2/5. She ran out in 1:02 1/5. Lord Nelson was credited with four furlongs in :48 2/5.