Preparations Continue for Oaks Hopefuls

Several contenders for the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) turned in works over a fast Churchill Downs main track April 29.

Go Maggie Go put in her final Oaks work, breezing five furlongs in 1:03 3/5 with exercise rider Tammy Fox in the irons.

"She worked real well this morning," trainer Dale Romans said of the move that came after the renovation break. "I just wanted her to go slow, and everything looks like it's on schedule."

Dothraki Queen, 16th on the Oaks leaderboard, worked five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 after the break under jockey Gary Stevens. 

"She flew the last eighth," Stevens said. "I had a test drive with her last week at Keeneland (in a work) and today she wanted to get down to business."

Trained by Kenny McPeek, Dothraki Queen won the Pocahontas (gr. II) at Churchill last September. If she doesn't make the Oaks field, the $150,000 Edgewood (gr. III), run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf May 6, is her next option.

Dream Dance, with jockey Brian Hernandez aboard, worked five furlongs in :59 3/5 after the break. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 3/5, the eighth-fastest time of 52.

"That was a hell of a work," trainer Neil Howard said. "I didn't think she'd go that fast, but it was the perfect track with just the right amount of moisture in it. I got her in (:59 3/5) and out in (1:12 3/5), and seven-eighths in (1:27 4/5). She is so honest."

Hernandez, who has ridden the filly in all nine of her starts, said, "I had horse the whole way. You couldn't ask for a better work."

It may be a longshot that Rags Racing Stable's Marquee Miss,  who is currently 18th on the Oaks leaderboard, makes the Kentucky Oaks field. But trainer Ingrid Mason and regular rider Channing Hill are moving forward as if she will. They sent out the multiple stakes-winning filly to work a half-mile in :49 during the special 8:30 a.m. training time Friday morning. She had a quarter-mile split of :24 1/5 and galloped out to five furlongs in 1:02.

"It was a good work," Mason said. "She's not normally a good work horse, unless she goes in company. Once you give her her head, she just settles right down. But I love that about her. She's not too hard on herself in the morning, which makes my job easier."

"This was her best work," Hill said. "She's doing really well. I hope she gets in. She deserves to be there. It was a bad deal at Turfway Park (when she finished third in the grade III Bourbonette Stakes). The wind was blowing like crazy and she just missed getting second."

Lewis Bay worked a half-mile after the break in :49 with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. Working in company, she posted fractions of :24 1/5 and :36 3/5. Her gallop-out times were 1:01 4/5 for five furlongs and 1:14 1/5 for six furlongs. The move was the 29th fastest of 67.

Carina Mia, 17th on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard, galloped after the break under exercise rider Penny Gardiner.

Trainer Todd Pletcher's Oaks hopefuls, Mo d'Amour and Rachel's Valentina, walked Friday morning following half-mile works Thursday.

Mokat jogged two miles a little after 7 a.m. with exercise rider Martin Ruiz aboard for trainer Richard Baltas.

Baltas, who arrived in Louisville Thursday, said Mokat would not work here for the Oaks. 

"She worked at Santa Anita the day before she shipped," Baltas said of a six-furlong work of 1:13 4/5 April 26. "She galloped out seven-eighths and a mile."

Trainer Steve Asmussen's four hopefuls had similar routines Friday morning, with 1 1/2 mile gallops, all going out before the renovation break. Carlos Rosas partnered Stonestreet Stables' Royal Obsession and LNJ Foxwoods' Nickname. Abel Flores was aboard Stonestreet Stables' Terra Promessa and Winchell Thoroughbreds' Taxable.

Paola Queen walked the shedrow Friday morning, a day after working six furlongs in 1:13 3/5. She stands 15th on the Oaks leaderboard and trainer Gustavo Delgado plans to confirm a rider Saturday for the filly for the Oaks.

Venus Valentine jogged before the renovation break under Maurice Sanchez for trainer Tom Amoss.

Weep No More galloped a little less than a mile and half after the renovation break under exercise rider Alex Gonzales.

Jack Bohannan, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold, said the Central Bank Ashland (gr. I) winner probably would work Saturday.

"We are just trying to find the best possible day for the work (with regard to weather)," he said.