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Oaks NewsOaks Contender Ermine Breezes Six Furlongs At ChurchillBy: John Asher LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 18, 2006) - Oxbow Racing LLC's Ermine tuned up for a scheduled run in the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) on May 5 at Churchill Downs with a strong six-furlong work over the historic track on Tuesday. The Ronny Werner-trained daughter of Exchange Rate, winner of the Honeybee at Oaklawn Park in her most recent start, worked in company with older stablemate Cheyenne Spirit and covered the distance over a "fast" track in 1:13.40. Jockey Robby Albarado was aboard Ermine and has committed to ride Werner's filly in the Oaks. Her work mate completed the distance in 1:15. "I was very pleased with that work," said Werner. "I wanted to work her in some company and I'm getting Cheyenne Spirit ready for a race next week, so I wanted this type of work for her, as well. So it kind of worked out for both. I did want a better work out of Ermine and a little bit longer work, and I got what I wanted and it worked out just right. That was the work I was looking for." The Honeybee win was the second consecutive victory for Ermine and Werner thought about running his filly back in the Fantasy (GII) on April 14. But Werner said his filly's physical make-up convinced him to Ermine to his home base at Churchill Downs and train her up to the 1 1/8-mile Oaks. "She's just kind of a thinner-made filly and can get a little picky in the [feed] bucket at times," said Werner. "But she's been doing great and knocking the bottom out [of the feed bucket] here and has put on some weight. To go three weeks [between the Honeybee and the Fantasy] and to try to wheel back in three weeks [in the Oaks], I just didn't see that was doable. I really honestly think this is the best way to go to have her at her best." Ermine opened her career with a runner-up finish in a six-furlong race at Churchill Downs, then finished second to the well-regarded Sweet Sugaree in a maiden race at Louisiana Downs. She appeared on her way to an easy victory at Oaklawn Park in her third career start, but she threw jockey Francisco Torres when she ducked in during the run through the stretch. Werner's filly won comfortably in her next outing at a mile under jockey Robby Albarado, then she upset heavily favored Brownie Points with Albarado in the irons in the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee on Feb. 16. Ermine is one of 15 considered "likely" or possible for the 132nd running of the Kentucky Oaks and he size of the potential Oaks field is Werner's only worry at this point. The group includes three fillies - Last Romance, Miss Norman and Top Notch Lady - that were not among the original 159 nominees for the race, but will be supplemented for a fee of $25,000. The race is limited to 14 fillies, with preference given to horses with the highest total earnings in graded stakes races. Unlike the Kentucky Derby, there is no preference for original nominees over supplemental entries. The Honeybee was not a graded stakes race, so none of the $79,700 earned by Ermine in her five career races would count toward getting her into the starting gate for Kentucky Oaks 132. "That's scarin' me," he said. "But to me it's all irrelevant. You need to be at your best - especially in that race - and I don't see any way she could have been at her best running three weeks to three weeks. She just couldn't have done that. If we get in, we get in. I hope we do, but if we don't we'll just have to regroup. But it's definitely one we want to run in." The list of Kentucky Oaks contenders includes:
Balance - Amerman Racing LLC - David Hofmans * Not nominated to Kentucky Oaks. Must pay a supplemental fee of $25,000 to run.
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