Dixie exuberant during morning exercise

After walking the shedrow for the previous two mornings, Kentucky Oaks (G1)
hopeful JUSTWHISTLEDIXIE (Dixie Union) was sent to Churchill Downs’ main track
to gallop 1 1/2 miles just before the renovation break on Monday morning.
Exercise rider Danny Wright was aboard the dark bay, who worked four furlongs in
:49 on Friday.

Justwhistledixie brings a five-race winning streak into the Oaks (Ed Van Meter/Horsephotos.com) “She was happy today. She was fresh,” said Neal McLaughlin, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s assistant and brother. “She was excited. She didn’t want to stand and look like she normally does; she just wanted to get on with her gallop. That’ll get her back into her routine. (Tuesday) I’m sure she’ll stand longer and relax, but she’s real happy right now.” Although exuberant about her morning exercise Monday, Justwhistledixie poses no problems for her connections. “She’s really laid back. She’s really easy on herself. She’s not a difficult to train. She doesn’t try to do too much. She’s just very smart and very easy to train. She does everything right,” McLaughlin said. “In her races, she’s more of a stalking filly. If there’s no pace, she can be up front. If there’s pace, she can sit back. She doesn’t need anything, where a lot of other horses need the pace to themselves or other horses to go out there to set a lot of pace so they can close. She dictates her own race, so that’s really nice to have in a big race like this.”

Julien Leparoux, who was aboard Justwhistledixie for the first time during
her victory in the Bonnie Miss S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park, has the return mount
aboard the filly who will be seeking her sixth straight win in the Oaks.

J. Paul Reddam’s NAN (High Yield), who will be seeking her first stakes
victory in the Oaks, galloped 1 1/8 miles with exercise rider Jose Castanon
aboard Monday morning.

“She’s doing very well,” said Aimee Dollase, sister and assistant to trainer
Craig Dollase.

Aimee Dollase admitted she’s fully enjoying the experience of Derby Week,
though this isn’t her first trip to Churchill the week before the Run for the
Roses. It was Derby Week 1996 when she first came to Churchill Downs as a
full-time employee in her family’s stables. Her father, Wally, brought Alyrob to
the Kentucky Derby (G1) that year and they also had Jewel Princess, an Eclipse
Award winner, running on Oaks Day.

“It was fascinating,” Aimee Dollase said. “Derby Week is like the Super Bowl.
I was so caught up in all the excitement I thought it was like this all the time
around here.”

Sunland Park Oaks winner GABBY’S GOLDEN GAL (Medaglia d’Oro) took it easy on
Monday, the morning after she worked five furlongs in 1:00 3/5, with her
exercise for the day limited to walking the shedrow at trainer Bob Baffert’s
barn.

“She came out great,” Baffert said of his charge one day following the
breeze. “She looked great today.”

Baffert was also full of praise for likely Oaks favorite Rachel Alexandra.

“Man, she just looks fantastic,” Baffert said. “What a racemare. She’s a
superstar.”

Owned and bred by Arnold Zetcher, Gabby’s Golden Gal will be ridden in the
Oaks by Victor Espinoza.

Westrock Stables’ BE FAIR (Exchange Rate) walked the shedrow at Barn 44 a day
after working five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 in her final major drill for Friday’s
135th running of the Oaks. Exercise rider Omar Golon was aboard for the work on
Sunday. Rafael Bejarano has the riding assignment for the big dance.

“She’s doing excellent,” trainer D. Wayne Lukas said.

Lukas’ other Oaks possibility, Marylou Whitney Stables’ TWEETER (Unbridled’s
Song), “breezed down the lane” according to the trainer. Exercise rider Taylor
Carty was in the irons.