Oaks Updates

By: John Asher

EAST/ WAIT A WHILE ROMPS IN DAVONA DALE - Arindel Farm's Wait A While turned in a spectacular 14-length romp in Saturday's $150,000-added Davona Dale (GII) at Gulfstream Park, an effort that moves the Todd Pletcher-trained filly up the list of contenders for the 132nd running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) on May 5.

Wait A While covered the 1 1/8 mile distance over a "sloppy" track in 1:50.27. Joseph Allen's favored Teammate was second, a head in front of IEAH Stables and Joe Plumeri's Wonder Lady Anne L. The latter had defeated the winner in the Demoiselle (GII) at Aqueduct last November.

Wait A While scored her maiden win on the turf at Belmont Park on Sept. 5 and went onto take the Miss Grillo at Aqueduct on Oct. 23 after that race was taken off the grass.

Pletcher had been considering a possible return to the grass for the daughter of Maria's Mon, but her dominating performance in the Davona Dale ended those thoughts for now.

"We've liked her a lot from the start and we were very high on her before her first race at Saratoga," said Pletcher. "She disappointed us a little bit on the dirt that day (fifth). That's why we made the move (to turf). When the Miss Grillo Stakes came off the grass it made that decision to run her easy. Then she disappointed us in the Demoiselle somewhat because she didn't go on after some moderate fractions, but I guess I have to keep her on the dirt now. We'll probably think about the Bonnie Miss."

The March 5 Bonnie Miss (GII), like the Davona Dale, is a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. Wait A While was an individual wagering interest in last month's opening pool of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager and closed at odds of 49-1. Wait A While improved her record to 3-0-1 from five lifetime starts.

Misty Rosette Stays Unbeaten -Sonia Chapman & Stuart Tsujimoto's Misty Rosette remained unbeaten in three lifetime starts with her four-length victory over Hobeau Farm's Swap Fliparoo in Saturday's $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (GIII). The James Chapman-trained daughter of Stormin Fever covered the 6 ½-furlongs in 1:16.03 over "sloppy" going. Smart and Pretty was 1 ¾ lengths back in third, a head in front of favored Yachats.

Adieu, Original Spin Work Toward Sophomore Debuts - Russell Reineman Stable Inc.'s Original Spin, winner of the Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie (GIII) and third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, turned in her second work of 2006 on Friday. She breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40 over a track rated "good" at South Carolina's Aiken Training Center.

Meanwhile, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith's Frizette (GI) winner Adieu turned in her second work of the year on Monday with an easy four-furlong breeze in :53 at Florida's Payson Park Training Center. Adieu was a disappointing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

In other workout news in the East, Richard Shultz and David Menard's undefeated multiple stakes winner Celestial Legend turned in a bullet five-furlong work on Monday at Laurel Park. She covered the distance "handily" in 1:01.61.

WEST/LAS VIRGENES RUNNERS TURN IN FINAL TUNE-UPS - Amerman Racing Stable's Balance, Charles Cono's Diplomat Lady, and STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood's Itty Bitty Pretty all turned in their final works over the weekend in preparation for Saturday's Las Virgenes (GI) at Santa Anita.

Itty Bitty Pretty worked six furlongs handily in 1:16 on Saturday for trainer Doug O'Neill, who captured last year's Las Virgenes with Sharp Lisa. Diplomat Lady breezed a half-mile in :50. Balance worked five furlongs handily on Monday, traveling the five furlongs in 1:00.40.

The one-mile Las Virgenes will be first start in 2006 for Diplomat Lady and Balance after running 1-2 respectively in the 1 1/16-mile Hollywood Starlet on Dec. 18. Itty Bitty Pretty, a daughter of El Corredor, rolled to a six-length victory in her first start past 6 ½-furlongs in the 1 1/16-mile Santa Ysabel (GIII) on Jan. 7.

COMING KENTUCKY OAKS 132 PREP RACES
Feb. 11 - $250,000 Las Virgenes (GI) at Santa Anita (mile)
$75,000 Arizona Oaks (1 1/16 miles)
$75,000 Wide Country Stakes at Laurel Park (mile)
$75,000 California BC Oaks at Golden Gate Fields (1 1/16 miles)

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