Balance leads Oaks workers

Last updated: 4/28/06 8:10 PM

Balance put in her final work Friday before shipping to Churchill
(Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com)

Multiple Grade 1 winner and leading Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender BALANCE
(Thunder Gulch) worked three-quarters in 1:11 3/5 on the fast dirt at Hollywood
Park on Friday, making her final California prep before shipping East.

“I had her galloping out in 1:24 2/5,” trainer David Hofmans said. “She
started off easy and finished strong. It was a good work.”

Jockey Victor Espinoza, in the saddle for the move, has been aboard Balance
in all but one of her starts and retains the mount for the May 5 Oaks. The bay
filly is set to leave California around 4 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday and arrive at
Churchill Downs around noon. She is exiting a distant third in the April 8
Ashland S. (G1).

Also on Friday, Santa Ysabel S. (G3) victress
ITTY BITTY PRETTY (El Corredor) breezed six furlongs in 1:17 over the
fast dirt at Churchill Downs after the renovation break with exercise rider Raul
Vizcarrando holding the reins. The bay lass was fourth in the Ashland in her final prep for the Oaks.

“I got her in 1:16 3/5,” said trainer Paul McGee, who is overseeing the
filly’s preparation for conditioner Doug O’Neill. “She did fine, finishing well.
She started slow and finished strong and galloped out good. It was just a
maintenance work.”

Pat Valenzuela has the call on Itty Bitty Pretty for the Oaks.

Santa Anita Oaks (G1) runner-up QUIET KIM (Real Quiet) also worked at
Churchill, logging six
furlongs in 1:12 4/5 under exercise rider Gerardo Morales, who called
conditioner Bob Hess Jr. afterward to report on the move.

“I called Bob and he was happy with the work,” Morales said. “I really like
the way she finished.”

Quiet Kim was sixth in the Fantasy S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park on April 14 in her third start
of the year. She broke her maiden on February 10 at Santa Anita.

Bourbonette Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) heroine TOP NOTCH LADY (Sultry Song)
clocked five-eighths in 1:01 over the Louisville, Kentucky, track in her preparation for the Oaks.

“I got her in 1:00 2/5 and out six furlongs in 1:15,” trainer Mark Casse
said. “That’s it for her. I’d say on a scale of one to five it was a 3 1/2.”

Patrick Husbands, who was in the irons when Top Notch Lady broke her maiden
last year at Woodbine, will be reunited with the bay filly for the Oaks.