Easter Sunday was a fairly quiet one for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders,
with the major news of the day being ZAZU’s (Tapit) work at trainer John
Sadler’s Hollywood Park base. The Las Virgenes (G1) winner drilled seven
furlongs in 1:27 1/5 on the Cushion Track as she gears up for her first start in
two months.
Zazu became the only horse to beat Turbulent Descent (Congrats) when
capturing the Las Virgenes, but she fell a neck shy of catching that same rival
in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) on March 5. Turbulent Descent flattered the form in
her subsequent outing, a five-length romp in the Beaumont (G2) at Keeneland. She
will not face Zazu at Churchill Downs, however, preferring to concentrate on
one-turn races.
Joel Rosario retains the Kentucky Oaks mount aboard Zazu.
At Churchill Downs, HOLY HEAVENS’ (Holy Bull) intended drill for the Oaks was
scrapped. With rain coming down heavily Sunday morning, trainer Benard Chatters
opted to keep her in the barn
and wait an extra day to work.
“Looks like we are in a holding
pattern with this weather, but hopefully we can work tomorrow,” Chatters said of
Holy Heavens, who made the move from the Trackside Training Center to Churchill
Downs on Thursday afternoon. “I just didn’t want to take her out there today.”
Trainer Larry Jones reported that Joyful Victory is scheduled to work
DAISY DEVINE (Kafwain), the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) heroine, is slated
DELIGHTFUL MARY (Limehouse), third in last fall’s Breeders’
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Trainer Steve Margolis plans to work Grade 3 winner BOUQUET BOOTH (Flower
Alley) on Friday for the Oaks, in which Robby Albarado is scheduled to have the mount. Albarado
rode Bouquet Booth for the first time in her most recent start, a fourth-place
finish in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland on April 9.
Margolis also had news of Street Storm. Although added to the Oaks as a late
nominee, she will likely run in the Edgewood on the Oaks undercard instead.
Margolis plans to work Street Storm on the grass Thursday.
The regally-bred ARIENZA (Giant’s Causeway) is still on the fence for the
Oaks, with trainer Dan Peitz also considering the Eight Belles (G3) on Oaks Day.
The daughter of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri was a distant second to Joyful
Victory in the Fantasy, and will probably work again on Friday.
Grade 1 queen R HEAT LIGHTNING (Trippi), the likely favorite for the Kentucky
Oaks, earned trainer Todd Pletcher’s approval when she walked on the morning
after Saturday’s half-mile work in :49 4/5.
“She looked good,” Pletcher said. “She came back in good shape.”
Pletcher said that R Heat Lightning, a resounding winner of the Gulfstream
Park Oaks (G2) and Davona Dale (G2) in her past two,
would have her final pre-Oaks work on Saturday.
Grade 2 victress KATHMANBLU (Bluegrass Cat) walked the
shedrow at trainer Ken McPeek’s barn, one day after working five furlongs over a
sloppy track in 1:02 4/5.
Assistant trainer Lars Becdelamotte acknowledged the filly came out of the
work fine, which was her first breeze since finishing third in the Ashland.