Oaks Updates

TOP KENTUCKY OAKS 133 STORIES:

• LADY JOANNE OFF KENTUCKY OAKS TRAIL
• RETURN TO RACING NEAR FOR CHAMP DREAMING OF ANNA
• CHURCHILL DOWNS UNVEILS KENTUCKY OAKS 133 LOGO

LADY JOANNE TAKES BREAK, OUT OF KENTUCKY OAKS PICTURE - Bentley Smith's homebred Lady Joanne, winner of the $200,000-added Golden Rod (Grade II) at Churchill Downs, is getting some rest on a Florida farm and is likely out of the picture for the 133^rd running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday, May 4, at Churchill Downs.

            Trainer Carl Nafzger, speaking by telephone on Friday, said the 3-year-old daughter of Orientate "just wasn't doing right" following her return to light training at Florida's Palm Meadows after a winter break.  He said Lady Joanne underwent a thorough examination that revealed no significant problems or ailments, but he said veterinarians had recommended additional rest.  Lady Joanne was shipped to an Ocala farm earlier this week for a 30-day break.

            "We're going to walk her for two weeks and just turn her out in a round pen and give her stall rest," said Nafzger.  "After 30 days, she'll go back into training.  But that'll throw us off way too much to go to the (Kentucky) Oaks."

Lady Joanne has a record of 2-0-2 in four races with earnings of $178,101.
            Nafzger saddled Unbridled to win the 1990 Kentucky Derby, but he has yet to win the Kentucky Oaks.  He finished second in the 1998 Kentucky Oaks with Banshee Breeze.

RETURN OF DREAMING OF ANNA JUST DAYS AWAY - The champion juvenile filly of 2006 is just days away from making her debut as a 3-year-old.

            Frank Calabrese's homebred Dreaming of Anna, the unbeaten winner of the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs, is scheduled to run at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 10.   Trainer Wayne Catalano has a choice of two races: the $150,000 Old Hat (GIII) at 6 ½ furlongs or the $150,000 Davona Dale (GII) at one mile.

            "The perfect race would be a turf race at seven furlongs or a mile, but they don't have that," Catalano told the Daily Racing Form. "There's not a lot of options. I was looking at the races in California, but the purses aren't good enough to ship that far."

            Dreaming of Anna has earned $1,266,240 in her four career victories.

            While the Kentucky Oaks would appear to be a logical goal for a filly like Dreaming of Anna, Calabrese told the DRF earlier this week that he is most interested in a race held at Churchill Downs on the day after the May 4 Oaks.

            "I really want to race her in the Derby," said Catalano as he cast a glance toward his trainer, "but I'm getting opposition."

KENTUCKY OAKS 133 LOGO UNVIELED - Churchill Downs has unveiled the official logo for this year's 133rd running of the Kentucky Oaks, the sister race to the Kentucky Derby.

            The Kentucky Oaks 133 logo features a large stargazer lily, the official flower of the Kentucky Oaks, and prominently displays the number 133 and the event date, May 4, 2007, against a color palette of pale pinks and teals. 

The logo will serve as the official emblem for the 2007 Kentucky Oaks and will be featured on officially licensed Kentucky Oaks 133 merchandise.

            The Kentucky Oaks logo will also be featured on special glasses serving the "Oaks Lily," the official drink of the Kentucky Oaks.  Created by Brown-Forman and first served in 2006, the Oaks Lily cocktail is a combination of Brown-Forman's Finlandia Vodka, sweet and sour mix, cranberry juice and triple sec.  The drink will be served at bars and dining locations throughout the racetrack on Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby days.

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