Oaks Updates

AUTOBAHN GIRL/SILVER KNOCKERS - The Live Oak Plantation's Autobahn Girl and Elk Manor Farms and James Moran's Silver Knockers each galloped 1 ½ miles with exercise rider Heather Stark up on both Sunday morning at Churchill Downs.

CASH INCLUDED - J. Paul Reddam's Cash Included returned to the track, jogging 1 ½ miles before the renovation break under exercise rider Froylan Garcia.

            The Include filly had worked a half-mile on Friday in :49.

            Corey Nakatani, who has ridden Cash Included four times, including a victory in the Oak Leaf Breeders' Cup (GI) last fall at Santa Anita, has the riding assignment.

COTTON BLOSSOM/OCTAVE/RAGS TO RICHES - Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Rags to Riches, who is expected to be the strong favorite in the 133^rd running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) at Churchill Downs on May 4, worked in company with stablemate and Kentucky Derby (GI) contender Circular Quay over the Polytrack surface at Keeneland on Sunday.

            Loren Robson was in the saddle aboard the daughter of A..P. Indy as she breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20, a clocking that was identical to that of her Louisiana Derby-winning stablemate, who was ridden by three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Angel Cordero, Jr.  The two horses worked six furlongs in company last week at Keeneland and Sunday's move tied as the 11^th-fastest of 32 at the distance.

            "They make nice workmates and both did very well," said Pletcher.  "We were very pleased with both of them."

            Rags to Riches has won three consecutive races -including the Las Virgenes (GI) and Santa Anita Oaks (GI) - after she finished fourth in her racing debut in a 5 ½-furlong race last June at Churchill Downs.

            "Since coming back from her first start at Churchill last year, which was obviously too short for her, she's done everything we've asked her to do," Pletcher said.  "She's trained very well since the Santa Anita Oaks and we're looking forward to running her in the Kentucky Oaks."

            Pletcher's other Oaks contenders - Florida Oaks winner Cotton Blossom and Ashland (GI) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) runner-up Octave, walked on Sunday after completing sharp-five furlong workouts on Saturday at Keeneland.  Each covered the distance in :58, the fastest clockings of the day at the distance.

DAWN AFTER DAWN - With jockey Robby Albarado up, Dawn and Ike Thrash's Dawn After Dawn worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 at the Trackside Training Center on Sunday morning over a track labeled "fast."

            "Robby said she worked great and he said he couldn't believe how much she had grown and matured since the last time he rode her (which was Dec. 10 at the Fair Grounds)," said trainer Wesley Hawley, who confirmed Albarado would have the mount in the Kentucky Oaks.

            Hawley plans to bring Dawn After Dawn to Churchill Downs late in the week to stay through the Oaks.

            "I want to gallop her once before she works again, which would be Saturday or Sunday," Hawley said.

HIGH AGAIN - Zayat Stables' High Again galloped 1 ½-miles at Churchill Downs with Keith Allen up.

            The daughter of High Yield, winner of the Bonnie Miss (GII) at Gulfstream Park, will be ridden in the Kentucky Oaks by Cornelio Velasquez, who has piloted the High Yield filly five times - with the past three resulting in victories.

HIGH HEELS - Fantasy (GII) winner High Heels walked the shedrow at trainer Gary Hartlage's barn a day after work five furlongs in 1:00 at Churchill Downs.

            "She's doing good this morning," Hartlage said. "She ate up good and now we have 12 or 13 days, whichever one we choose, to rock and roll."

            High Heels also is nominated to the Kentucky Derby and Hartlage said that possibility has not been totally ruled out.

            Joe Johnson has the mount.

MISTICAL PLAN - J. Paul Reddam's Mistical Plan jogged a mile at Keeneland Sunday morning with exercise rider Tony Romero up.

            It was the first day back at the track for the Game Plan filly who worked a half-mile at Keeneland Friday in :47.80, the 12^th-fastest of 43 at the distance.

            Trainer Doug O'Neill plans to work Mistical Plan this Friday and then ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday.

            David Flores, who rode Mistical Plan to victory in the Sunshine Millions Oaks, has the call for the Kentucky Oaks.

SEALY HILL - Melynk Racing Stables' Sealy Hill walked the shedrow at Keeneland Sunday morning in advance of a 10:30 a.m. van ride to Churchill Downs.

            "She's going into the Casse barn," trainer Mark Casse said with a laugh referring to Barn 17 where he was stabled last spring with Kentucky Derby runner Seaside Retreat and Oaks runner Top Notch Lady as well as last fall for the Breeders' Cup with Skip Code --  sharing quarters with Eclipse Award winner Bernardini, among others.

            Patrick Husbands has the riding assignment.

SWIFT TEMPER - A day after saying Swift Temper was not likely to run in the Kentucky Oaks, trainer Bobby Barnett said Sunday, "it looks like we are going to get in, so we are aiming in that direction."

            Owned by Mark Stanley, Swift Temper has $21,500 in graded stakes earnings, which should be enough to secure her a spot in the 14-horse starting gate.

            "She worked here on the 18^th (a half-mile in :48, the second-fastest of 35 at the distance) and she will work again Friday or Saturday, depending on the weather," said Barnett, who has not confirmed a rider.

            "She's a Giant's Causeway, so the mile and an eighth will be better for her. We had to ship to the last two races (the Bonnie Miss at Gulfstream and the Fantasy at Oaklawn), so this is also better, being right here."

            Swift Temper galloped two miles Saturday morning under exercise rider Mario Covento shortly after the track opened for training.

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