Sis City prepares for Oaks

Sis City is the probable favorite for the Kentucky Oaks (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

SIS CITY (Slew City Slew), the expected favorite for Saturday’s Kentucky Oaks
(G1), had her final work in advance of the race when she breezed five furlongs
in 1:02 on a fast track at Churchill Downs on Sunday. Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. came in from
New York specifically to see the work and left immediately afterward for
Belmont. He plans to return to Churchill Downs on Wednesday. The bay miss is
undefeated in two starts this year, a 10 1/2-length score in the Ashland S. (G1)
at Keeneland and a 16-length romp in the Davona Dale S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Santa Anita Oaks (G1) runner-up MEMORETTE (Memo [Chi]) also made an
appearance on the Churchill worktab, breezing five-eights in 1:01 4/5 for
conditioner Bill Currin.

“She finished strong, so I’m happy,” assistant Ignacio Correas said. “She
loves this track and gets a hold of it very well.”

Currin is due to arrive back in Kentucky from California on Tuesday.
Memorette is winless so far this year, but has placed second in two Grade 1
contests and ran third in the Ashland.

RUNWAY MODEL (Petionville) galloped her customary two miles after the
renovation break with Georgia Jackson aboard. The dark bay filly won the Golden
Rod S. (G2) over this same surface last year and trainer Bernie Flint is
confident she will perform well with Pat Valenzuela up for the Oaks.

Runway Model has finished off the board only twice from 12 career starts (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

“She’s going along very well,” said Dave Rock, assistant to trainer H. Graham
Motion. “She hasn’t missed a step. She can be a little flighty sometimes,
so we’re taking her out a little later in the morning after the action has
settled a bit.”

John Velazquez is confirmed for the gray.

Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) heroine SUMMERLY (Summer Squall) galloped under the
twin spires with exercise rider Carmen Rojas in the saddle. Scott Blasi,
assistant to conditioner Steve Asmussen said the the date of her finals prep
before the Oaks is still in question.

Fantasy S. (G2) runner-up RUGULA (Bernstein) jogged a mile and visited the
paddock with rider Bobby Warren in the irons. Trainer Grant Forster plans to
gallop and work Rugula at the gate Monday morning. Gretta Kuntzweiler will have
the call.

IN THE GOLD (Golden Missile) galloped at Keeneland with exercise rider Jorge
Abreu up. She will give conditioner Nick Zito a chance to become the first
trainer in 53 years to sweep the Oaks and Kentucky Derby (G1) when Ben Jones accomplished the
feat with Real Delight and Hill Gail won those respective races in 1952. Rafael Bejarano will have the mount in the Oaks.