Oaks Updates

AUTOBAHN GIRL/SILVER KNOCKERS - Elk Manor Farm and James Moran's Silver Knockers worked a half-mile in :48.20 after the renovation break with Joe Johnson up Friday morning at Churchill Downs.

The move, accomplished in company with the Nick Zito-trained Commentator, was the third-best of 22 at the distance over a track labeled as "good."

"I thought she worked all right. The track was a little heavy," Zito said. "I want to see what happens the next couple of days (before making a decision on entering the Oaks)."

The Live Oak Plantation's Autobahn Girl galloped before the renovation break under exercise rider Heather Stark and is scheduled to work Saturday. Eddie Castro has the Oaks riding assignment.

CASH INCLUDED -Wally Dollase, who is handing the local training for Cash Included for his son Craig, opted to wait one more day to the filly and instead took her for a schooling session in the paddock and then galloped her a mile and a quarter after the renovation break at Churchill Downs with exercise rider Froylan Garcia up.

Owned by J. Paul Reddam, Cash Included is scheduled to work after the break Saturday morning with jockey Corey Nakatani slated to be aboard.

Cash Included galloped Friday morning in blinkers.

"We are trying something with her and this was the first time she has worn blinkers," Dollase said. "We want to make sure she is relaxed."

COTTON BLOSSOM/OCTAVE/RAGS TO RICHES - Trainer Todd Pletcher's three Kentucky Oaks hopes, headed by likely favorite Rags to Riches, prepared for their final pre-Oaks works with gallops over the Polytrack surface at Keeneland on Friday.

Rags to Riches, winner of the Las Virgenes (GI) and Santa Anita Oaks (GI), galloped 1 3/8-miles under exercise rider Loren Robson. Pletcher said that the A.P. Indy filly was scheduled to work on Sunday and would likely work in company again with regular workmate Circular Quay, a Kentucky Derby contender and winner of the Louisiana Derby.

Pletcher said his other Oaks contenders, Octave and Cotton Blossom, were set to work on Saturday at Keeneland.

Octave, the runner-up in Keeneland's Ashland (GI) and last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Churchill Downs, stood at the Keeneland starting gate on Friday b before she galloped two miles under Pierre Godoy.

Cotton Blossom, runner-up in the Fantasy (GII) and winner of the Florida Oaks, galloped 1 3/8-miles Friday under exercise rider Valerie Buck.

DAWN AFTER DAWN - Dawn and Ike Thrash's Dawn After Dawn galloped nearly a mile and three-quarters under exercise rider Bill Wilson on Friday morning at the Trackside Training Center and was scheduled for an approximate noon arrival at Churchill Downs at Barn 43 where she will be housed for the Kentucky Oaks.

Trainer Wesley Hawley said the Successful Appeal filly "was doing great this morning," and is scheduled to work Sunday.

Robby Albarado has the Oaks riding assignment.

DREAMING OF ANNA - Frank Calabrese's Dreaming of Anna, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Churchill Downs and the champion 2-year-old filly of 2006, galloped over the Churchill Downs track on Friday in preparation for a work scheduled for Saturday.

Trainer Wayne Catalano said that Dreaming of Anna would work after the mid-session break for track maintenance. A decision on a possible bid by the champion for the Kentucky Oaks is expected Catalano assesses that work.

Dreaming of Anna arrived at Churchill Downs on Thursday afternoon.

The Breeders' Cup win completed a perfect juvenile season for Dreaming of Anna, but she has failed to win in two races this year. She finished third in the Old Hat (GIII) at Gulfstream Park in her first start of the season, then finished second to Audacious Chloe in the Gaily Gaily on the turf at the Florida track.

HIGH AGAIN - Zayat Stables' High Again galloped a mile and a quarter under exercise rider Keith Allen at Churchill Downs.

Kenny McCarthy, assistant to trainer Bill Mott, said all was well with the High Yield filly who is scheduled to have her final pre-Oaks work on Monday.

Cornelio Velasquez has the mount.

HIGH HEELS - Anita Ebert's High Heels galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break under exercise rider Jimmy Connolly on Friday morning at Churchill Downs and is scheduled to work five furlongs on Saturday.

"She was very good this morning," trainer Gary Hartlage said. "I have six horses to breeze in the morning and she will be in the fourth set, which would have her go out about 6:45.

Joe Johnson is scheduled to handle the work and be aboard in the Oaks.

MISTICAL PLAN - J. Paul Reddam's Mistical Plan turned in her final pre-Oaks work Friday morning at Keeneland, covering six furlongs in 1:13.40 under exercise rider Tony Romero. Keeneland clockers posted split times of :24.60, :48.40 and out in 1:27.80.

"She worked great," trainer Doug O'Neill said. "She went the first half in 49 and came home the last quarter in 24 and change. I was very happy with it."

The Cal-bred daughter of Game Plan will walk Saturday morning, then jog Sunday over the Polytrack at Keeneland before vanning to Churchill Downs that afternoon.

David Flores will ride in the Oaks.

SEALY HILL - Melnyk Racing Stables' Sealy Hill galloped a mile and a half after the renovation break with Julia Brimo up as trainer Mark Casse opted to wait a day to work the Point Given filly.

"It looked like she handled the track well, but I thought if I waited another day, the track would be perfect in the morning," Casse said.

Brimo will handle the work in the morning that is scheduled after the break.

Patrick Husbands has the Oaks riding assignment.

SWIFT TEMPER - Mark Stanley's Swift Temper galloped a mile and half shortly after the track opened for training Friday morning at Churchill Downs. Exercise rider Mario Covento was up.

Trainer Bobby Barnett plans to work Swift Temper five furlongs Saturday morning with Covento up.

"She will probably work after the break, but if the weather is a factor or something comes up, she may go out first," Barnett said.

Julien Leparoux is scheduled to ride in the Oaks.

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