Jaywalk Breezes Five Furlongs to Prep for Kentucky Oaks

D.J. Stable and Cash is King's champion Jaywalk, third in the April 6 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, tuned up for the May 3 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) with a five-furlong breeze in :59 1/5 on a fast main track the morning of April 25 at the Lexington track.

The workout was moved up a day to avoid the possibility of an off track with rain in the forecast. Thursday's work was the fastest of 12 at the distance.

With regular exercise rider Lucas Berticelli aboard, the daughter of Cross Traffic  galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 3/5.

"That was exactly what we wanted," Tyler Servis, son of trainer John Servis, said. "She left (the five-furlong marker) like a bear. She left there running. I had her in :11 3/5 for the first eighth. She looked like she wanted to do it. She galloped out really well."

A Keeneland September sales graduate, Jaywalk earned the 2018 Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly with victories in the Frizette Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park and Tito's Handmade Vodka Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Churchill Downs. In her 3-year-old debut, Jaywalk was fourth in the March 2 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park prior to the Ashland.

Jaywalk arrived at Keeneland March 26 and has been following a schedule similar to that of 2016 Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia. The two fillies share several similarities: Cathryn Sophia raced for Cash is King, was trained by John Servis, was third in the Ashland, and resided at Keeneland for several weeks prior to moving to Churchill for the Oaks.

"We stuck to the same plan, and it seems to be working," Tyler Servis said. "This has been very beneficial to get out of that South Florida heat (at Palm Meadows training center). In the Ashland, she showed a big improvement from how she ran in Florida. She keeps getting better, and this has been our plan all along to have her peak in May."

Plans call for Jaywalk to train at Keeneland April 28 and ship to Churchill around noon. 

She will be ridden in the Kentucky Oaks by multiple Eclipse Award winner Javier Castellano, who was aboard Cathryn Sophia for her Oaks win. Post positions for the race will be drawn at 11 a.m. Monday.

Also on the Thursday work tab, Commonwealth Stable's Ashland Stakes winner Out for a Spin breezed a half-mile in :49 4/5 outside of recent fourth-place allowance runner Broadway Cat at Churchill Downs. The duo worked through fractions of :12 1/5, :24 2/5, and :37 before galloping out to five furlongs in 1:03 4/5 over a track rated muddy.

Watching from Section 322 in the grandstand, trainer Dallas Stewart said the work was "perfect."

Out for a Spin will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. in the Kentucky Oaks.