Room Service Will Not Run in Kentucky Oaks

Gary and Mary West's homebred filly Room Service, who dead-heated for victory with Rosalind in the April 5 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I), has been withdrawn for consideration in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). 

"We decided not to run Room Service," trainer Wayne Catalano said. "She's worked OK on the dirt, but not as good as she does on the grass. She's a lot better of a horse on the grass."

Catalano worked the More Than Ready   filly twice over the Churchill Downs oval following her Ashland effort, which marked her first start on a synthetic surface. She had previously raced exclusively on turf, over which she captured the March 2 Herecomesthebride Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park.

"We brought her over here (Churchill) to see how she would handle the dirt," said Catalano. "If she handled it extremely well, then we'd make a decision on running her (in the Oaks)."

In her first drill at Churchill April 16, Room Service covered four furlongs in :49 1/5, after which she ran seven furlongs in 1:28 3/5 April 24.

"We have some turf races that we want her to run her in and Mr. West and I will set up a schedule," Catalano said.

The trainer could not yet name any specific races to which he was pointing Room Service, but did say the filly would not run at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) weekend.

Bred in Kentucky, Room Service is out of the Old Trieste mare Dream Lady.