Oaks Updates

AUTOBAHN GIRL/SILVER KNOCKERS - Elk Manor Farm and James Moran's Silver Knockers galloped Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs with exercise rider Heather Stark up.

Trainer Nick Zito plans to work the Silver Deputy filly Thursday morning.

Zito's other Kentucky Oaks hopeful, the Live Oak Plantation's Autobahn Girl, jogged with Stark up on her first day back at the track after working a half-mile in :48.60 on Monday, She is scheduled to work again Sunday.

CASH INCLUDED - J. Paul Reddam's Cash Included jogged Wednesday morning before the renovation break at Churchill Downs with exercise rider Froylan Garcia up.

The Include filly is scheduled to work Thursday morning.

COTTON BLOSSOM/OCTAVE/RAGS TO RICHES - The three Kentucky Oaks contenders trained by three-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher - a trio headed by likely favorite Rags to Riches - had a busy morning as all three galloped over the Polytrack surface at Keeneland.

Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Rags to Riches, winner of the Las Virgenes (GI) and Santa Anita Oaks (GI), stood at the starting gate and then galloped 1 3/8-miles under exercise rider Loren Robson.

Starlight Stable and Paul Lucarelli's Octave, runner-up in four straight graded stakes events that include the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) and the Ashland (GI), also spent time standing at the starting gate and then galloped 1 3/8-miles under exercise rider Pierre Godoy.

Dogwood Stable's Cotton Blossom, winner of the Florida Oaks and runner-up in the Fantasy (GII), galloped 1 3/8-miles with exercise rider Valerie Buck in the irons.

Pletcher said all three fillies would work on either Saturday or Sunday and would ship to Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

DAWN AFTER DAWN - Dawn and Ike Thrash's Dawn After Dawn galloped nearly a mile and three-quarters with exercise rider Bill Wilson up Wednesday morning at the Trackside Training Center.

"She is doing just super this morning," trainer Wesley Hawley said.

Robby Albarado is scheduled to ride the Successful Appeal filly in the Oaks. Plans call for Dawn After Dawn to train at Trackside on Friday morning and then van over to Churchill Downs later that day with a work slated for Sunday.

HIGH AGAIN - Zayat Stables' High Again walked the shedrow at Barn 19 a day after working five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Tuesday.

"She's looking good this morning," said Kenny McCarthy, assistant to trainer Bill Mott. "She will go back to the track tomorrow."

Cornelio Velasquez has the mount.

HIGH HEELS - Anita Ebert's High Heels galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break at Churchill Downs with exercise rider Jimmy Connolly up.

"Everything is good," trainer Gary Hartlage said. "She will work an easy five-eighths on Saturday ... she will make it look easy. Joe (Johnson) will be up."

Johnson, who has ridden the E Dubai filly in all 10 of her starts, has the Oaks assignment.

MISTICAL PLAN - J. Paul Reddam's Mistical Plan jogged a mile and galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Tony Romero at Keeneland on Wednesday morning.

The filly is scheduled to work Friday at Keeneland and ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday. David Flores has the Oaks riding assignment.

SEALY HILL - Melnyk Racing Stable's Sealy Hill galloped a mile and a half under Julia Brimo before the renovation break at Churchill Downs.

The filly had been scheduled to work Thursday, but the move has been pushed back to Friday.

"Dad is not going to get to Louisville until Thursday afternoon," said Norm Casse, son of trainer Mark Casse. "He is coming from Ocala and after the work going to Toronto."

Patrick Husbands has the Oaks riding assignment.

SWIFT TEMPER - Mark Stanley's Swift Temper was one of the first horses on the track Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs, galloping a mile and a half under exercise rider Mario Covento.

Trainer Bobby Barnett said the Giant's Causeway filly has "been doing well this week" and is scheduled to work Saturday with Covento in the irons.

Julien Leparoux is scheduled to ride in the Oaks.

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