Power Squeeze looking fierce Saturday. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Brown’s duo of Regulatory Risk and Ways and Means put in final gallops
Longines Kentucky Oaks Update/Edited
Lea Farms’ Kentucky-bred Power Squeeze was out on the Churchill Downs track Thursday with exercise rider Edwin Castro for trainer Jorge Delgado.
“She went out and galloped her mile-and-a-half,” Delgado said. “Just one more day. With the scratch (of Tapit Jenallie), that changes the race a little.”
Power Squeeze could extend her win streak to five if the upset winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) prevails in the Kentucky Oaks.
The Union Rags filly has been perfect since breaking her maiden and following up with stakes wins in the Cash Run at Gulfstream Park and Suncoast at Tampa Bay Downs.
The 11-1 betting choice after two days of advance wagering, Power Squeeze drew post 12 with Daniel Centeno in the field of 14, but the scratch will move Power Squeeze one stall closer to the rail.
Power Squeeze was also out on the track Wednesday for trainer Jorge Delgado, with exercise rider Edwin Castro.
“She just did her routine and galloped a mile-and-a-half,” Delgado said. “She looked really good. She’s having some fun out there. I can’t wait until Friday. I just wish the race was this afternoon, and not two days away. People are noticing her now.”
Meanwhile, with all the hard work behind them, the Chad Brown’s Oaks duo of Regulatory Risk and Ways and Means both put in their final gallops for owner Klaravich Stables.
With rain in the forecast for Oaks day, Ways and Means may be faced with running over a wet track for the first time in her career. Regulatory Risk caught a sealed, sloppy track in the Busher Stakes at Aqueduct March 2 in which she finished fifth.
“They’re both doing really well but we’re watching the weather I guess,” Brown said. “These horses don’t have much experience in the wet, particularly Ways and Means, who is the stronger half of the entry. But she is doing super, and I do expect her to run well.”
Regulatory Risk and Ways and Means each galloped twice around during the 7:30 a.m. training session Wednesday.
Regulatory Risk, sired by Omaha Beach, has only one win in five starts but finished second in her last start April 6 in the Gazelle to Oaks competitor Where’s My Ring.
Practical Joke filly Ways and Means won on debut followed by seconds in the Grade 1 Spinaway only missing the win by half a length to Brightwork, and, after a six-month layoff, the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Oaks to Power Squeeze.
The 150th Longines Kentucky Oaks Field
