Oaks News

Anita Ebert's High Heels, the runaway winner of the Fantasy (GII) in her most recent start, tuned up for her Oaks engagement by working five furlongs over a "fast" track in 1:00 under jockey Joe Johnson before the renovation break Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

AUTOBAHN GIRL/SILVER KNOCKERS - Trainer Nick Zito's two Kentucky Oaks (GI) hopefuls were on the track at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning.

With Heather Stark up, Live Oak Plantation's Autobahn Girl galloped and Silver Knockers, owned by Elk Manor Farm and James Moran, jogged on her first day back to the track after working a half-mile in :50 on Thursday.

Zito was at Keeneland Saturday morning, where he has another 36 horses stabled.

CASH INCLUDED - J. Paul Reddam's Cash Included walked the shedrow at Barn 33 Saturday morning, a day after working a half-mile in :49 under exercise rider Froylan Garcia.

Wally Dollase, who is overseeing the filly's preparations for his son Craig, said Cash Included's next work would likely be Friday with Oaks rider Corey Nakatani handling the move.

COTTON BLOSSOM/OCTAVE - Two of trainer Todd Pletcher's three major candidates for the 133rd Kentucky Oaks worked over Polytrack at Keeneland on Saturday.

Dogwood Stable's Cotton Blossom, winner of the Florida Oaks and runner-up in the Fantasy, and Starlight Stable and Paul Lucarelli's Octave, runner-up in the Ashland (GI) and Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI), each worked five furlongs in :58 - which tied as the fastest works of 33 at the distance.

Pletcher also trains Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Rags to Riches, the early favorite for the Kentucky Oaks and winner of the Las Virgenes (GI) and Santa Anita Oaks (GI). The daughter of A.P. Indy is expected to work at Keeneland on Sunday.

DAWN AFTER DAWN - Dawn and Ike Thrash's Dawn After Dawn galloped 1 ¾ miles at the Trackside Training Center on Saturday morning under exercise rider Bill Wilson.

Trainer Wesley Hawley said the Successful Appeal filly is scheduled to work five furlongs at Trackside Sunday morning at 8:30 and then ship over to Churchill Downs later in the week before her final pre-Oaks work on April 29.

HIGH AGAIN - Zayat Stables' High Again galloped Saturday morning at Churchill Downs with Keith Allen up.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said everything was going well with the High Yield filly, who will be ridden in the Oaks by Cornelio Velasquez.

"She worked in :50 last Tuesday and she is going to work again this Tuesday," Mott said.

HIGH HEELS - Anita Ebert's High Heels, the runaway winner of the Fantasy (GII) in her most recent start, tuned up for her Oaks engagement by working five furlongs over a "fast" track in 1:00 under jockey Joe Johnson before the renovation break Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

"She might have gone a little too fast," said trainer Gary Hartlage of the move that was the third-fastest of 16 at the distance.

High Heels returned to her Churchill Downs base on Monday. Hartlage said she would have her final pre-Oaks work on Friday or Saturday.

MISTICAL PLAN - J. Paul Reddam's Mistical Plan, winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks (GIII), walked the trainer Doug O'Neill's shedrow at Keeneland after working a half-mile over Polytrack in :47.20 on Friday.

SEALY HILL - Melnyk Racing Stables' Sealy Hill, winner of the Bourbonette Breeders' Cup (GIII), galloped 1 ½ miles Saturday morning at Keeneland with exercise rider Julia Brimo up.

Trainer Mark Casse said the Point Given homebred is scheduled to leave Keeneland at 10:30 Sunday morning to come to Churchill Downs, where she will be ridden in the Kentucky Oaks by Patrick Husbands.

Casse plans to work Sealy Hill on Wednesday or Thursday.

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