Kentucky Oaks News: Jones Duo Arrives at Churchill;Awesome Chic Works;Highest Class Works, Chances for Oaks "Slim"

TOP STORIES:
AWESOME CHIC BREEZES UNDER ALBARADO
JONES DUO OF EIGHT BELLES, PROUD SPELL ARRIVES
HIGHEST CLASS WORKS, OAKS CHANCE “SLIM”

A TO THE CROFT – Jockey Calvin Borel is scheduled to have a get-acquainted session with A to the Croft on Saturday morning as a five-eighths work for the Kentucky Oaks is on the agenda after the renovation break.
Owned by Koolmen Racing Stable, A to the Croft will have her first work since finishing third in a mile and a sixteenth allowance race at Keeneland on April 13.
Trained by Ken McPeek, A to the Croft galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break Friday under Jose Castanon.

AWESOME CHIC – It was a thumbs up and a “muy bueno” from trainer Rafael Ramos after Aurora Springs Stable’s Awesome Chic worked a half-mile in :51.20 under jockey Robby Albarado.
“They wanted an easy work for her,” Albarado said. “She worked three-quarters (in 1:16) last week and she didn’t need much today. She is training good and I can ride her with some confidence in the Oaks.”
Albarado is expecting big things from the little filly.
“She is not physically big, but she tries and she’s got a big heart,” Albarado said. “I could feel it turning for home. She knows where the stretch is. I expect a big effort from her.”
A winner of three of five career starts, Awesome Chic won the Grade III Florida Oaks in her most recent start at Tampa Bay Downs where Ramos has the remainder of his stable housed. Ramos will remain in Louisville through the Oaks.

BSHARPSONATA – Cloverleaf Farm’s Bsharpsonata jogged a mile under Scott Miller before the renovation break.
It was the first day back at the track for Bsharpsonata, who had worked five furlongs in :59.80 on Thursday.
Eric Camacho has the mount in the Oaks.

EIGHT BELLES/PROUD SPELL – Trainer Larry Jones’ dynamic duo of Fox Hill Farms’ Eight Belles and Brereton C. Jones’ Proud Spell arrived at Churchill Downs around 5 p.m. (EDT) on Friday following a van ride from Keeneland, where they had been training for possible engagements in either the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 2, or the $2 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on Saturday, May 3.
Trainer J. Larry Jones, the Hopkinsville, Ky. native who saddled Island Sand to finish second to champion Ashado in the 2004 Kentucky Oaks, said both fillies handled the journey from the Lexington track well.
“It was all good – very uneventful,” said Jones. “We’ll gallop tomorrow and it looks like we’re going to work Sunday.”
Jones said Eight Belles, winner of the Fantasy (GII) at Oaklawn Park, and Proud Spell, winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII), would work shortly after the break for track maintenance on Sunday and that jockey Gabriel Saez would be in the saddle for both moves.
“We’ll work just as fast as we can make a turnaround,” Jones said. “We’ll send one first after the break, the other one will go one and a half after the break.”
Both fillies remain under consideration for a Kentucky Derby bid, although Jones said that Brereton Jones appears “95 percent” committed to running Proud Spell in the Kentucky Oaks. As for Eight Belles, Jones said Fox Hill’s Rick Porter plan remains to enter the daughter of Unbridled’s Song in both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby. She would run in the Oaks if she were to end up with an unfavorable post position.
“The only thing I guess right now that would keep her out of the Derby would strictly just be a miserable post,” Jones said. “As I told Rick, Wednesday morning we’ll have a real good idea of whether we’re going from the standpoint of if we draw (a post draw selection order of) 10 or 12 on down, we’re going to get a decent enough hole that we can go… We’re going to know pretty quick which way we’re going to go. It’s not going to be a Saturday morning scratch.”
If both fillies should run in the Kentucky Oaks, Ramon Dominguez would ride Eight Belles and Saez would remain on Proud Spell.

GOLDEN DOC A – Ron McCauley’s Golden Doc A jogged a mile under Stephen O’Callaghan before the renovation break Friday morning.
It was the Unusual Heat filly’s first day back to the track since working five furlongs in :59 on Thursday under Oaks rider Kent Desormeaux.
Trainer Barry Abrams is due back in Louisville on Monday.

HIGHEST CLASS –Briarwood Stable’s Highest Class worked five furlongs in 1:01.60, the 17th fastest of 27 at the distance, under Annie Finney after the renovation break Friday morning.
“It was a good work,” trainer Neil Howard said. “I got her in 11 and 4 for her last eighth. She is a late-running filly and didn’t need to go in 59.”
Howard said a decision has not been made on whether Highest Class would run in the Oaks, but he considered such a bid as “slim.”

HONEST PURSUIT – Overbrook Farm’s Honest Pursuit walked under the shedrow for trainer Dallas Stewart on the morning after the daughter of Storm Cat breezed a half-mile in :47 at Churchill Downs.
Stewart said Overbrook officials were still considering a possible Kentucky Oaks bid for Honest Pursuit, who rolled to an easy allowance victory in her most recent start at Keeneland.

LITTLE BELLE – Darley Stable’s Little Belle, winner of the Ashland Stakes (GI) at Keeneland in her most recent start on April 5, had her final Oaks tuneup at the Lexington track Friday morning, working a half-mile in :46.20.
The move was the second fastest of 42 at the distance.
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Little Belle is not expected to ship to Churchill Downs until the morning of the Oaks.

PURE CLAN – With part owner Lewis Lakin looking on, Pure Clan put in her final prep for the Kentucky Oaks by working five furlongs in 1:00.60 under new jockey Edgar Prado.
Working after the renovation break and on her own, Pure Clan posted fractions of :12.80, :24.60, :36.60, :48.60 with a gallop out time of 1:13.40. The move was the fifth fastest of 27 at the distance over a fast track.
“Edgar was pleased,” trainer Bob Holthus said. “She really finished good through the stretch. She went off a little slow, but that’s normal for her; she’s not a quick horse. We really liked the way she finished.”
Pure Clan, whose ownership also includes IEAH Stable and Pegasus Holding Group Stables, had been ridden by Julien Leparoux in her five previous starts. Friday was Prado’s first time aboard the filly.
“I wanted Edgar to get a feel for her,” Holthus said. “She has some quirks and is a little different from the average horse. I wanted him to know what he had.”