Oaks Updates

BALANCE - Trainer David Hofmans sent the two-time Grade I winner out for some gate-schooling and a gallop Wednesday morning, shortly after the starting gate opened for students at 7:15 a.m.

Hofmans has put Balance through a schedule of activities to help her feel comfortable in her new surroundings. Exercise rider Erin Buttigieg took the filly to the gate, let her stand in the space for a while then set out on a mile and three-eighths gallop.

"My rider said she was much more focused today," Hofmans said, "not looking at the crowd, just focusing down the racetrack. So she's getting over her acclimation here. I think she's settling in."

Hofmans planned to take the Amerman Racing Stable filly back to the paddock for more schooling during the racing program Wednesday afternoon.

Balance was clearly not comfortable during a visit to the paddock on Tuesday.

"She does that the first day," Hofmans said. "The first couple of days she gets hot, she gets a little antsy over there. She'll probably get hot and antsy (Wednesday) and then (Thursday) she'll be better. That's her typical way."

BUSHFIRE - Ashland Stakes winner Bushfire galloped at Churchill Downs late Wednesday morning and was "on her toes" on the walk back, looking ready to run on Friday in the Kentucky Oaks. Her owners, Ron and Ricki Rashinski, were on hand for the first time this week to watch the filly exercise, while trainer Eddie Kenneally accompanied the racehorse on his pony.

Bushfire will break out of post-position 10 under jockey Cornelio Velasquez. She has been installed the 5-to-1 co-second choice on the morning line.

"I think it's pretty fair, the morning line," said Ron Rashinski. "Not that I don't think she can do the job. She was let go at 15-to-1 in the Ashland.

"She has her one 'throw out' race in the Davona Dale, where she didn't care for it (the off track) too much. She has four wins at four different tracks and they were all routes," he explained, referring to several reasons to be confident of her chances on Friday.

"I hope she'll go to the front and improve her position," he smiled.

Rashinski named his and his wife's stable Homewrecker Stable.

"It's not that ominous. Actually it's a moniker that came about when I was a kid, because I was into things like racing cars and doing other (wild) things that needed a name…and this got put on it."

Over the years, the couple has enjoyed racing cars and boats on an amateur level and is now enjoying horse racing at the very top. Bushfire is the Rashinski's best horse to date, and they will attend the Oaks and Derby for the first time this year.

Talking about Bushfire's victory in the Ashland, the owner added, "When you're a small stable, a big race like that is really nice. We tasted the champagne. It's nice to be part of the party and great for all our people: the groom, exercise rider…just a really nice feeling. But getting the silks painted on the jockey at Keeneland, that was the coolest thing."

Ricki added, "We're still high on the Ashland. Tampa (Bay Downs) was an experience all itself, too. We're getting lots of e-mails." The pair is bringing in several family members for the race.

During the big races themselves, Ron explained, "It's hard to soak it all in, because I'm a bit 'freaked out' during it all."

"He'll be sitting at the table with his Pepto Bismol and Rolaids," said Ricki.

It is very evident that the Rashinskis are enjoying this ride.

DIPLOMAT LADY - Trainer Chris Paasch kept the Forestry filly busy Wednesday morning, watching closely as she galloped 1 3/4-miles under exercise rider Alfredo Garcia.

On Monday, Diplomat Lady breezed a half-mile in 51.20 (21st of 24 works at the distance) over a muddy strip under jockey Alex Solis, and Paasch didn't feel she got enough out of the work, so he jogged her Tuesday and galloped her today.

"She's healthy and happy and doing very well here," the trainer said. "She looks like she's coming to the race in great shape."

Diplomat Lady drew post 2 in the 14-horse Oaks field, which is not a preferred spot.

"I wasn't thrilled with the inside, but you have to take what you get," Paasch said. "Everyone thinks she has to have the lead, but that's not the case. She always breaks sharp, but she can settle into second or third and rate.

"In the Santa Anita Oaks, she was laying just off the pace in a great spot, and she had a chance to win turning for home, but then she displaced (her palate) and that was the end of it."

Diplomat Lady shipped from California 10 days before her victory in the Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland last out, and then went to Paasch's farm near Lexington for some R & R before shipping to Churchill Downs.

Owners Charles and Karen Cono were on hand Wednesday to watch their filly gallop.

Diplomat Lady became a Grade I winner last December when she took the Hollywood Starlet for her first win around two turns. A $400,000 sales purchase last year, she is second only to Balance on the Oaks list of graded stakes earnings, with a total of $460,600.

"She's a very smart filly, very mature for her age," Paasch said. "She handles new situations very well."

ERMINE - Ermine galloped after the break at Churchill Downs on Wednesday morning and will school in the paddock this afternoon. The speedy filly will break from post position 12 under jockey Robby Albarado and was assigned odds of 12-1 on the morning line.

Trainer Ronny Werner said, "First of all, I'm glad to have a post (position)," referring to the fact she was number 16 of 17 on the earnings list for the Kentucky Oaks.

On getting post 12 he said, "It's kind of tight and not ideal out there. I don't want her to use too much too early and take away from her late run. She always breaks sharply and the key will be to get into position for that first turn."

Pronounced (ūr m n), the name Ermine refers to the valuable white fur of the animal of the same name, also known as a stoat or short-tailed weasel. Owners Art and Stephanie Preston (Oxbow Stable) selected the name for the filly they purchased for $45,000 as a yearling.

"I'm always looking at names and like one word names," said Art Preston. "I wanted a name that started with the letter E, to go with the sire, Exchange Rate. It's easier to keep track of them that way. Ermine is an expensive white fur, which ladies often wear as trim on their coats."

EX CAELIS - Circle C Group Stables' Ex Caelis was on the track shortly after the historic oval opened for training at 6 a.m. Wednesday for a routine gallop under regular exercise rider Jesse Cirillo.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who had missed the previous two mornings of training after suffering a bruised muscle in his left leg Sunday morning, was back on his pony Wednesday morning.

"We are all good here," Lukas said of Ex Caelis, who will exit post position six in Friday's Oaks under Julien Leparoux. "That's a good post for her."

Never worse than fourth in six career starts, the daughter of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus scored her lone victory on a track labeled "good" at Saratoga in August. It was her only race on an off track and Lukas said he did not think an off track Friday would be a problem for Ex Caelis.

Two days out from the Oaks, the weather forecast called for a 60 percent chance of rain with scattered thunderstorms Thursday and then a 30 percent chance of morning showers Friday.

ITTY BITTY PRETTY - The Santa Ysabel Stakes winner galloped 1-1/2 miles Wednesday morning in preparation for Friday's Kentucky Oaks.

"She had a strong gallop. She had a good hold of the bit," reported trainer Paul McGee, who has been overseeing Itty Bitty Pretty's daily routine for California-based trainer Doug O'Neill.

Itty Bitty Pretty, who will be ridden by Patrick Valenzuela from the No. 9 post position in the Oaks, will be looking to rebound from a distant fourth in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.

LAST ROMANCE/WONDER LADY ANNE L - After waiting two days to avoid wet conditions, assistant trainer Michelle Nevin sent the fillies out to Wednesday morning for blow-outs.

"The girls both breezed three-eighths," Nevin said. "Both went well."

Nevin is handling the fillies for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. who had not arrived in Louisville.

Under jockey Rafael Bejarano, who will ride her in the Oaks, Last Romance covered the three furlongs in 37.60 seconds.

Nevin and Wonder Lady Anne L completed the work in 38.20.

Edgar Prado will ride Wonder Lady Anne L in the Oaks.

Nevin said the decision to delay the works was based on the conditions.

"Weather is a big element, and the track," she said. "We didn't want to do anything on a bad track the last couple of days, so we just waited until today.

"They both went really well. I was happy."

LEMONS FOREVER - Lemons Forever drew the extreme outside post number 14 for the 1 1/8 miles Kentucky Oaks. Jockey Mark Guidry, who never has won the race, will ride her for the first time. She is 20-to-1 on the morning line.

"The post position has got to compromise her chances," said trainer Dallas Stewart, "but we can't do anything about it so we'll just make the best of it.

"Everything else is good and she's doing great," he said, adding that the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid galloped a mile and a half this morning at Churchill Downs.

Stewart also co-owns Lemons Forever. He wondered out loud this week when the last time an owner/trainer was victorious in the Kentucky Oaks. The answer is 1965, when Mrs. Mary Keim's Amerivan won the classic. (As an aside, she is the only female trainer to have won the Oaks.)

The winning owner/trainer combo was actually quite common in the early years of the race and into the beginning of the 20th century, but has happened with less frequency over the last 50 years.

Incidentally, owner/trainer D.E. (Danny) Stewart won the 1929 Kentucky Oaks with Rose of Sharon, but there's no relation to Dallas Stewart.

MISS NORMAN - Some changes will be evident for the Artax filly in Friday's Oaks, with a new jockey (Pablo Morales), a change in blinkers and a change in bits.

Owner Greg Norman watched closely as the bay filly jogged two miles with a pony late Wednesday morning, but Miss Norman acted calm and collected the whole way.

All the changes stem from the filly's last outing in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn, which turned into a thrill ride. Miss Norman was two lengths in front turning into the stretch when she suddenly bolted to the outside. Jockey Tony Farina gained a measure of control, but the filly raced wide and wider through the stretch. The amazing thing was that she finished second in the race, beaten only three lengths.

Farina came in to work Miss Norman last Friday (seven furlongs in 1:29.80), but owner Norman did not like what he saw during the breeze.

"She was acting up with Tony and I could see then I had to make a change. I think Pablo may get along better with her. She and Tony just didn't get along."

Norman and trainer Karin Long have some other changes planned.

"She'll wear semi-cup blinkers instead of the French cup blinkers she had last time," Norman said. "And we're changing from a ring bit to a D-bit for this race."

Miss Norman has reacted badly to being hit with the whip in past races, but Morales will carry a stick on Friday.

"But he's instructed to use it only if it's absolutely necessary," Norman said Miss Norman drew the rail post for Friday's Oaks.

"Well, we always intended to go right for the lead after the break, and now we'll have to," Norman said. "I had hoped for a post a little farther outside, but now we'll go for the lead and hope the rest of the speed takes back and leaves us alone in front."

Miss Norman was 41-1 when second in the Fantasy, and she was 53-1 when she was second in the Matron at Belmont last year, and has been 20-1 or more in all her stakes starts. She's quoted at 20-1 for the Oaks. The only time she was favored was when she broke her maiden at Del Mar last summer in her lone victory, paying $4 to win. She led start to finish in that event.

QUIET KIM - Trainer Bob Hess was on hand Wednesday morning as the daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Real Quiet jogged two miles around the oval with Gerardo Morales aboard.

Hess, who arrived from his California headquarters Tuesday night, said he detected a slight problem with Quiet Kim Wednesday morning.

"She coughed once while she was jogging," Hess said. "We scoped her and found some mucous in a guttural pouch. It's nothing serious, and it's a quick fix. We'll just flush it out and she'll be fine."

Hess said the filly looked good otherwise and that she was ready for Friday's test.

Quiet Kim drew post 3 for the Oaks, and will have Kent Desormeaux aboard. Desormeaux rode the bay filly when they were second, beaten a neck, in a maiden race at Santa Anita last year.

"The post is fine," Hess said. "I'd rather be there than way outside. She'll take back right away and make her run late."

The filly, owned by Chris Houchins, had her final Oaks drill here last Friday when she breezed six furlongs in 1:12.80 under Morales.

Quiet Kim, who broke her maiden on Feb. 10, was second in the Santa Anita Oaks in March, earning enough graded stakes money to make the field. She finished sixth in the Fantasy Stakes last out.

RED CHERRIES SPIN - Naveed Chowhan claimed Red Cherries Spin two and a half weeks ago for $75,000 at Keeneland and Tuesday came up with another $25,000 to supplement her to the Kentucky Oaks. To get an immediate return on that investment, Red Cherries Spin would have to finish first or second on Friday.

She'll attempt to do that when breaking from post-position five under jockey Corey Nakatani, who has won the Oaks twice before - in 1991 aboard Lite Light and again in 1996 aboard Pike Place Dancer. She's the longest shot on the morning line at 50-1.

Chowhan and his wife of 20 years, Noreen, were at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning to watch their new filly gallop a mile and a half. They reside in Floyds Knobs, Ind., on their 53-acre farm, West Wind Farm. There they keep four broodmares and their babies.

Chowhan is modest when it comes to taking the credit for selecting Red Cherries Spin at Keeneland on April 15. "(Daryl) Hall was not much without (John) Oates," he kidded. "I've been blessed when we (Bernie Flint) got together," he said of the successful relationship he enjoys with his trainer.

Chowhan studies the numbers assigned to racehorses, from dosage indices to speed figures and everything in between. Red Cherries Spin's numbers are what attracted him to her.

"We were going to Keeneland for other reasons and I saw this 3-year-old with the pedigree to go long and also to run on grass." He put in the claim and she won the race - a six and a half furlong sprint - by nine lengths.

"Up to now, we know she's a sprinter," said Flint. "You can't train horses to go long, they have to be able to do it and we think she undoubtedly has the pedigree to do so. If she wins, we won't look 50-to-1 then, will we?

"What happens when three cherries come up on a slot machine?" challenged Flint.

Payoff.

TOP NOTCH LADY - Trainer Mark Casse sent Top Notch Lady to the track for a 1-1/2-mile gallop in preparation for her attempt to stretch her winning streak to four races in the Oaks.

Patrick Husbands will be aboard the daughter of Sultry Song for the first time since her debut victory over the Woodbine Turf course on July 30 of last year.

WAIT A WHILE - The racy gray filly out of the Todd Pletcher barn went trackside on a sunny morning just prior to the 8 o'clock renovation break with her regular exercise rider - the Frenchman Frederick Buscialle - in the tack.

The daughter of Maria's Mon covered about a mile and a quarter in a strong gallop, muscling up against her rider's hard hold.

When Buscialle came off the track, he was asked about his filly's demeanor.

"She's not the easiest filly to gallop, but she's feeling plenty good," he said.

The Arindel Farm runner has drawn post 8 in a field of 14 for the $685,900 Oaks and her trainer has indicated she will be blindfolded and led in first at race time to counteract the bad gate habits she demonstrated in her most recent start, a second-place finish in Keeneland's Ashland Stakes April 8.

Pletcher took Wait a While and his Derby colts - Bluegrass Cat and Keyed Entry - to the Churchill paddock at 11:45 for schooling Wednesday. The day's first race went off at 12:45.

Wait a While will have the saddle services of the nation's leading rider for purses won, Garrett Gomez, and is listed as the 5-1 co-second choice behind 2-1 favorite Balance.

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