Asmussen Breezes Four Oaks Hopefuls
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Terra Promessa - Morning Work - CD - 050216 - 001
Trainer Steve Asmussen's four Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) hopefuls had easy, half-mile workouts before the renovation break May 2 at Churchill Downs.
All four fillies have the needed points to make the field that is limited to 14 3-year-old fillies.
In the first set of the morning, Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred Taxable, by Tapit , with exercise rider Abel Flores aboard, worked in :50 2/5, with splits of :24 2/5 and :37 2/5. Taxable will enter the Oaks off a runner-up finish in the Fantasy Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park.
Also in that set, Stonestreet Stables and Regis Farms' Royal Obsession, with exercise rider Carlos Rosas aboard, worked in :50 2/5 with a first quarter in :24 3/5. The Tapit filly enters the Oaks off a runner-up finish in the Gazelle Stakes (gr. II).
In the next set, Stonestreet's back to back grade III winner Terra Promessa, with Flores riding, worked in :50 4/5 with fractions of :12 3/5, :25 2/5, and :38. LNJ Foxwoods' Nickname, a grade I-winning daughter of Scat Daddy with Rosas riding, worked in :50 3/5, with splits of :25 3/5 and :38 2/5.
"I'm happy with them physically and mentally,'' Asmussen said of the four fillies.
Terra Promessa is on a four-race winning streak, the latest victory for the Curlin filly coming in the Fantasy at Oaklawn. Among fillies being pointed to the race, she is the Road to the Kentucky Oaks points leader with 150.