Oaks Updates

Photo By: Joel Cunningham/CDI

Oaks contender Miss Norman, accompanied by a pony after galloping two miles Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs, will not be schooled in the paddock for the Oaks but will visit the gate a couple times, according to owner Greg Norman. The Artax filly had an eventful beginning to her sophomore campaign last out when badly bolting twice in the stretch run of the Fantasy, potentially costing her the victory in that Grade II prep.

BALANCE - Amerman Racing Stables LLC's Balance visited the starting gate and then galloped 1 1/8 miles Wednesday morning at Hollywood Park under regular exercise rider Martin DeRubin.

The Thunder Gulch filly, winner of the Las Virgenes (Grade I) and the Santa Anita Oaks (GI), is scheduled to work Friday morning under regular rider Victor Espinoza and then ship to Churchill Downs the following day.

BUSHFIRE - Trainer Eddie Kenneally reported from Keeneland that Homewrecker Stable LLC's Bushfire, winner of the Ashland (GI) and the Florida Oaks enjoyed a good morning with a 1 ¼-mile gallop on the training track with exercise rider Lorina Andersen up.

Kenneally, who has 22 horses stabled at Keeneland, plans to work Bushfire on Friday or Saturday and ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday. Cornelio Velasquez has the mount in the Oaks.

DIPLOMAT LADY - Charles Cono LLC's Diplomat Lady, winner of the Stonerside Beaumont (GII) and last year's Hollywood Starlet (GI), jogged two times around the Churchill Downs main track before the renovation break under exercise rider Alfredo Garcia.

The daughter of Forestry probably will have her final Oaks work Sunday or Monday for trainer Chris Paasch.

ERMINE - Oxbow Racing LLC's Ermine galloped Wednesday morning under exercise rider Ronald Savoy and she is scheduled to work Thursday morning for trainer Ronny Werner.

EX CAELIS - Circle C Group Stables' Ex Caelis galloped under exercise rider Jesse Cirillo before the renovation break Wednesday morning for four-time Oaks winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

ITTY BITTY PRETTY - STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood's Itty Bitty Pretty galloped 1 ¼-miles before the renovation break under exercise rider Luis Rodriguez.

The Doug O'Neill trainee, the winner of the Santa Ysabel (GIII) and third in the Santa Anita Oaks (GI), is scheduled to work on Friday.

LAST ROMANCE/WONDER LADY ANNE L - The Rick Dutrow-trained fillies are expected to arrive at Churchill Downs on Thursday for their engagement in the Kentucky Oaks.

LEMONS FOREVER - Leon, Willis and Terry Horton and Dallas Stewart's Lemons Forever was on the track before the renovation break and galloped 1 ½-miles under regular morning partner Pedro Velez.

The Stewart trainee is scheduled to work Saturday with Oaks rider Mark Guidry up.

MISS NORMAN - With exercise rider Amy Peters up, Fantasy (GII) runner-up Miss Norman galloped two miles after the renovation break to the satisfaction of owner Greg Norman.

Norman said he planned to have Miss Norman visit the starting gate in the morning possibly once next week, but that at the time there were no plans to send the daughter of Artax for a paddock session.

Scheduled to be ridden in the Oaks by Tony Farina, Miss Norman is slated for a seven-furlong work Saturday.

PRESS CAMP - Peters Stables LLC, Rancho San Miguel and Matthew Shaver's Press Camp galloped 1 ½-miles at Bay Meadows with exercise rider Sylvester Jimenez up.

Trainer William E. Morey has a one-mile work scheduled for 7:30 a.m. (PDT) Thursday with Jimenez slated to be aboard for the move.

The filly tentatively is scheduled to ship to Louisville on Tuesday and Rafael Bejarano has the riding assignment in the Oaks.

QUIET KIM - Chris Houchins' Quiet Kim, runner-up in the Santa Anita Oaks (GI), returned to the track after a morning off to gallop 1 ½-miles under exercise rider Gerardo Morales.

Morales indicated that trainer Bob Hess was scheduled to arrive in Louisville Wednesday night or Thursday morning from the sales in Ocala, Fla.

RED CHERRIES SPIN - Naveed Chowhan's Red Cherries Spin galloped two miles under exercise rider Lorna Chavez.

The Bernie Flint-trained daughter of With Approval is scheduled to work five furlongs over Churchill Downs' Matt Winn Turf Course on Thursday.

TOP NOTCH LADY - Robert J. Wilson's Top Notch Lady, winner of the Bourbonette Breeders' Cup (GIII), was on the track before the renovation break on a crisp morning to gallop 1 ½-miles under exercise rider Jose Castanon.

The Sultry Song filly is scheduled to work in the morning with Oaks rider Patrick Husbands scheduled to be aboard for Woodbine-based trainer Mark Casse, who was due in Louisville later Wednesday.

WAIT A WHILE/READY TO PLEASE - Arindel Stable's Wait A While, the Todd Pletcher-trained winner of the Davona Dale (GII) and runner-up in the Ashland (GI), galloped 1 ¼-miles under exercise rider Frederick Buscialle.

James Scatuorchio's Ready to Please, winner of the Fantasy (GII), galloped 1 ¼-miles under Justin Curran. Pletcher said the daughter of More Than Ready remained "unlikely" to be entered in the Kentucky Oaks.

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