Gomo Seeks Comeback in Gulfstream Park Oaks

Trainer Doug O'Neill still has a chance to make the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) with Gomo, but there is little margin for error for the 3-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo   in the April 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II).

Unraced since her Oct. 2 Darley Alcibiades (gr. I) victory going 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track at Keeneland, in which she earned a berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), Gomo missed the Breeders' Cup with an ankle chip and will get a late start to her sophomore season in the 1 1/16-mile Gulfstream Park test.

ANGST: Gomo Romps in Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland

"We gave her some time off and she's back training fantastic," trainer O'Neill said. "We were debating over the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) against Songbird, which wasn't real exciting, or bringing her out to Gulfstream, which we decided to do. We're excited about it. She's a super-talented filly by Uncle Mo and we're optimistic that she can run a big race on Saturday."

Gomo broke her maiden going a mile on turf in her second start, then ran second in the Sorrento (gr. II) on dirt and third in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf before returning to the dirt for the Alcibiades.

"She's been galloping really strong and she's had four five-eighths workouts, and hasn't really missed a beat since she's come back. She's got a lot of miles underneath her and she's got experience on her side," O'Neill said. "The only thing is she hasn't run in a little bit. She's been training like the layoff won't bother her at all and I think we're going to see a big effort on Saturday from her."

The Reddam Racing runner will need a 1-2 finish in this race, which awards 100-40-20-10 points to the top four finishers, to make the field for the Kentucky Oaks. But the lot she drew in with are hardly world-beaters, so even if she needs a race, she may be able to move forward on class alone. She departs post 5 with regular rider Mario Gutierrez in the saddle.

Undefeated Todd Pletcher trainee Off the Tracks, a daughter of Curlin  , is the only other runner in the field with a stakes score—and her three wins have come sprinting. Off the Tracks put together a solid maiden victory at first asking with a Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III) score when trained by Roderick Rodriguez before going to the sidelines, and returned Feb. 21 to win the Margate Handicap going 6 1/2 furlongs. Following that win, Newtown Anner Stud privately bought in with J Stables, and she was moved to Pletcher. Hall of Famer John Velazquez rides from the outside in a field of seven.

"We've been very impressed by the filly overall," Pletcher said. "She's a big, strong, imposing sort that trains very willingly. Her breezes have been good and her record obviously speaks for itself. It would seem with a pedigree like hers that the stretch out in distance should suit her well. We're looking forward to running her."

Off the Tracks shows four works at Palm Beach Downs since joining Pletcher, two each at four and five furlongs, most recently breezing five-eighths in 1:01.19 March 26, third-fastest of 10 horses.

"Basically we just wanted to get to know her a little bit when she first came in. She came in excellent condition, so we kind of had this race in mind," Pletcher said. "We put her on a schedule that would hopefully set her up for it, and she hasn't missed a beat and has trained accordingly. We've been pleased with the way she's worked and the way she's galloped out. We're optimistic that she's held form."

In each of her starts, Off the Tracks has raced on or near the lead, something Pletcher expects to continue in the Oaks.

"She seems like a filly with natural speed and I wouldn't think we'd be looking to change any tactics," he said. "We'll survey the way the race looks on paper, and post positions and that sort of thing, but I think with a filly that's been showing some speed sprinting, that in a stretch out scenario that she'd be prominently placed early."

One who enjoyed the 1 1/16-mile distance last time out is Mo' Green, another Uncle Mo filly who broke her maiden at second asking Feb 28 for trainer Joe Orseno. She joins Gomo as the only two in the field with experience over a distance.

Recent maiden winners Paola Queen, Double Entendre, and Go Maggie Go complete the field, along with Hold On Momma, who broke her maiden at first asking back in December but ran back-to-back fourths in allowance company after that.