Paradise Woods Records Final Work for Kentucky Oaks

Richard Mandella has a certain giddiness about him when one of his good horses is going well.

Not so long ago, after Beholder's morning breezes, he had a frequent pep to his step. In the Santa Anita Park grandstand April 27, the excitement was back.

"It looked like a morning gallop," Mandella said of Paradise Woods' six-furlong work in 1:12 2/5—her last before shipping to Churchill Downs for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). He then switched to a grinning, raspy character, and shadow boxed a nearby turf writer. "I'm pretty excited."

The Hall of Fame conditioner's mood had a clear source. After the Union Rags   filly ran behind workmate Milhaud early and effortlessly moved past in the stretch, Mandella said she may even be moving forward off a record-setting 11 3/4-length win in the April 8 Santa Anita Oaks (G1).

BALAN: Paradise Woods Romps in Santa Anita Oaks

"We set her back there, but she wanted to go," he said of the filly owned by Steven Sarkowsky and Martin and Pam Wygod. "She's a young, learning filly that's very fast. She'll probably be on the lead in the race, but we'll continue to school her, just like we do all of them. You never know (when they might run into adversity). ... It looks like she's getting better to me."

With regular rider Flavien Prat aboard Thursday, Paradise Woods ran fractions of :23 4/5, :35 1/5, and :59 1/5, then galloped out to seven furlongs in 1:26 2/5, all under a tight hold by the French jockey.

"She felt good. She's as good as she was before," Prat said. "I mean, I didn't even ask her. She hit the quarter pole and just went by."

About the possibility of a less-than-ideal trip against 13 other fillies in the Kentucky Oaks, Prat said he thinks his filly is capable of dealing with a tougher trek, and pointed to her maiden-breaking win at Santa Anita March 11. With the caveat that it was only at 5 1/2 furlongs, the jockey saw and felt the signs of a horse that could deal with certain aspects if things don't entirely go her way.

In her maiden-breaking win, Paradise Woods raced in fifth early, made a four-wide move, and pulled away to win by 4 1/4 lengths. A start later in the Santa Anita Oaks, the filly cruised on the lead and was never threatened.

"It won't be like last time," Prat said of the Kentucky Oaks, compared with the Santa Anita Oaks. "There was no speed in the (Santa Anita Oaks). We'll see what happens. She's won from off the pace. It was 5 1/2 furlongs, of course, but she took the dirt well and she didn't panic."