Pletcher works Oaks contenders; Rose to Gold breezes

It was a busy Saturday morning at the Todd Pletcher barn at Churchill Downs

as Dreaming of Julia, Unlimited Budget, Silsitaand Princess of Sylmar all worked

for the two-time Kentucky Oaks winning trainer.

In her second work since arriving at Churchill Downs on April 8,

Dreaming of

Julia, 21 3/4-length winner of the Gulfstream Oaks, breezed four furlongs in

:48 4/5 under Humberto Zamora and recorded fractions of :12 2/5, :24 and :36 3/5

and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01, three-quarters in 1:13 and seven

furlongs in 1:26 3/5. She pulled up clocking one mile in 1:44.

"I thought she had another very good work today," Pletcher said. “We were

looking for a solid work with a good gallop out and I thought she did that very

well. After a monstrous effort, we were anxious to see how she bounced out of

it. Her appetite, energy level and enthusiasm have all been terrific since that

race. If (the Gulfstream Oaks) did take something out of her, she hasn't shown

it."

"We switched positions with them and put Unlimited Budget on the inside this

time," Pletcher said. "It seemed like it was maybe a touch deeper on the inside.

I thought (Unlimited Budget) worked well. I thought both fillies worked well,

but Silsita was a little bit stronger on the gallop out today. Last week,

Unlimited Budget was on the outside and she was a little bit stronger, so I

don't know if there's anything to that or not."

Unlimited Budget worked under Patti Krotenko and Silsita worked under Hall of

Fame rider Gary Stevens.

"There's a good chance Gary will have the mount (in the Kentucky Oaks),"

Pletcher said. "I'm going to talk to (co-owner) Aron Wellman later, but I'd say

Gary is the leading candidate at this point."

Gazelle runner-up Princess of Sylmar, under Jake Nelson, worked on the

outside of Eight Belles contender Fusaichiswonderful, who was guided by Nick

Bush.

Also working toward a Kentucky Oaks start on Saturday morning was

Rose to Gold, who completed the Honeybee/Fantasy double at Oaklawn Park.

Working under jockey Calvin Borel, Rose to Gold breezed four furlongs in :48 1/5

and recorded fractions of :12 1/5, :24 1/5 and :36 and galloped out five

furlongs in 1:01 2/5.

"I'm told she worked really well," trainer Sal Santoro said from his barn at

Calder. "The plan right now is to breeze her one more time before the race.

We're trying to keep on the same schedule we've used since day one. In the end,

though, it's all up to her. She'll tell me what she wants and what she needs."

Rose to Gold was purchased as a yearling for $1,400 and has earned $717,889

while under the care of Santoro, who said he was flying to Kentucky on Monday

and would be at Churchill Downs on Tuesday morning.