Joyful Victory works alone for the Oaks

After wins in the Fantasy and Honeybee, Joyful Victory will try to maintain her 2011 unbeaten streak in the Kentucky Oaks (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography) JOYFUL VICTORY (Tapit), who figures to be among the favorites for the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (G1) along with R HEAT LIGHTNING (Trippi) and KATHMANBLU (Bluegrass Cat), worked five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 on her own over a sloppy Churchill Downs strip Monday under jockey Gabriel Saez. Fractions for the work were :12 1/5, :24, :36, :48 3/5 and out six furlongs in 1:16 2/5. "It was a good work on this track," trainer Larry Jones said. "She was just loping along. Gabe thought she went slower." Jones had planned to work Joyful Victory in company with graded-stakes winner Winslow Homer (Unbridled's Song), who is nominated to the $300,000 Alysheba S. (G3) on Oaks Day. "With the track the way it was, I decided not to (work them together)," Jones said. "I wanted to make sure they didn't pressure themselves into doing too much. They will do something serious Sunday."

Mike Smith, who has been aboard Joyful Victory for her two victories in 2011

-- the Fantasy S. (G2) and Honeybee S. (G3) -- will retain the mount for the

Oaks.

Working over the Polytrack at Keeneland on Monday was multiple stakes winner

INGLORIOUS (Hennessy). Second in the Rachel Alexandra S. (G3) two back and

fourth in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) last time, the Canadian-bred miss traveled

five furlongs in 1:02 3/5.

In other Oaks news:

Trainer Benard Chatters opted to wait another day to work HOLY HEAVENS (Holy

Bull). Winner of the Martha Washington S. earlier this year, she finished more

than eight lengths behind Joyful Victory in both the Fantasy and Honeybee in her

last two starts.

"We are just going to gallop today and hope it gets better and work

(Tuesday)," Chatters said prior to the filly's morning exercise.

Chatters has lined up Kent Desormeaux to ride Holy Heavens in the Oaks and

Desormeaux is slated to be aboard for the work Tuesday. Desormeaux, seeking his

first victory in the Oaks, has never ridden Holy Heavens.

Also scheduled to work Tuesday are Fair Grounds Oaks heroine DAISY DEVINE (Kafwain),

who will got to the track at 6 a.m. (EDT) under James Graham, and Sunland Oaks

vixen PLUM PRETTY (Medaglia d'Oro), who will head out at 8:30.