Gamine Schooling in the paddock while Bob Baffert looks on
Wednesday morning proved to be a wet one at Churchill Downs, several of the Kentucky Oaks fillies took to the track to stretch their legs and gallop, some schooled in the paddock.
BAYERNESS–Belladonna Racing’s Indiana Oaks runner-up Bayerness galloped Wednesday morning at Trackside Louisville for trainer Cherie DeVaux. Bayerness is 50-1 for Friday’s Longines Kentucky Oaks.
DONNA VELOCE–Kaleem Shah, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Donna Veloce visited the starting gate and galloped once around under John Stock for trainer Simon Callaghan.Donna Veloce, who enters Friday’s Oaks off a nearly six-month layoff, was scheduled to school in the paddock with horses in Wednesday’s second race.
“She had a minor issue and it was decided to take some time off and get ready for a fall campaign and the Breeders’ Cup and have a good filly next year as a 4-year-old,” said Carlos Santamaria, assistant to Callaghan. Donna Veloce, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) last year at Santa Anita, won the Santa Ysabel (GIII) going 1 1/16 miles on March 8 in her most recent start.“She went to Florida and utilized a water treadmill and when she came back, she was two to three weeks ahead in her schedule before starting back jogging and galloping,” Santamaria said. Ricardo Santana Jr. will be aboard for the first time in the Oaks.
DREAM MARIE–Miracle’s International Trading Inc.’s Dream Marie continued to make a good impression as she galloped once around the Churchill track under exercise rider Ian Cravens during the allotted 7:30 a.m. training time for Oaks and Derby horses. Shortly before the Graydar filly left the barn, it started to rain, but trainer Matthew Williams said he wasn’t worried about the wet track and that he wouldn’t mind a wet track come Friday. “She’s never raced on an off track, but the one workout that stands out in my mind was on a wet track,” Williams said. “I think she’d like it. I was watching the last 15 running’s of the Oaks last night and I remember how Abel Tasman closed from way back on a sloppy track. We know our filly will be closing.”
DREAM MARIE–Miracle’s International Trading Inc.’s Dream Marie continued to make a good impression as she galloped once around the Churchill track under exercise rider Ian Cravens during the allotted 7:30 a.m. training time for Oaks and Derby horses. Shortly before the Graydar filly left the barn, it started to rain, but trainer Matthew Williams said he wasn’t worried about the wet track and that he wouldn’t mind a wet track come Friday.“She’s never raced on an off track, but the one workout that stands out in my mind was on a wet track,” Williams said. “I think she’d like it. I was watching the last 15 running’s of the Oaks last night and I remember how Abel Tasman closed from way back on a sloppy track. We know our filly will be closing.”
GAMINE–Michael Lund Petersen’s Gamine, the even-money, morning line favorite for the Kentucky Oaks, had trainer Bob Baffert on hand as she galloped over the sloppy Churchill Downs track Wednesday morning.The daughter of Into Mischief annexed the Acorn (GI) and Test Stakes (GI) in her past two outings, winning those two races by a combined 25 ¾ lengths.
HOPEFUL GROWTH–St. Elias Stable’s Monmouth Oaks (GIII) winner Hopeful Growth arrived safely around 9 a.m. after an overnight van ride from New Jersey, according to her trainer Anthony Margotta. She is staying with trainer Dale Romans, who will saddle the filly Friday.“I’m going to miss the hoopla,” Margotta said. “It’s still a very important race, a historic race. I feel very blessed to be in this position, but unfortunately, I’m staying in New Jersey.”
SHEDARESTHEDEVIL–Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing Stable and Big Aut Farms’ Shedaresthedevil galloped about 1 ½ miles Wednesday morning in the mud with Edvin Vargas up for trainer Brad Cox. “There are some really nice fillies in the race but we’re training like she’s ready for the best race of her career so far,” Cox said.
SPEECH–Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables and Heider Family Stables’ Speechwaited for early morning rains to slacken before galloping under Osman Cedeno during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.Listed as the 5-1 third choice for the Oaks, Speech could get trainer Michael McCarthy’s weekend off to a flying start Friday. McCarthy brought seven horses from his 45-horse stable to Churchill Downs and will have four horses running Saturday, three in stakes.“Everybody has trained well and gotten over the track well,” McCarthy said. “It is easier with that many getting and getting settled and staying in a routine.”McCarthy’s stakes runners Saturday include Ce Cein the $500,000 Derby City Distaff Presented by Derby City Gaming (GI), Rushiein the $500,000 Pat Day Mile Presented by LG&E and KU (GII) and Smooth Like Straitin the $500,000 American Turf Presented by Smithfield (GII).
SWISS SKYDIVER–Peter J. Callahan’s multiple stakes winner Swiss Skydiver had her usual “basic” gallop at 6 a.m. over a sloppy track Wednesday and will do the same Thursday, the final day of training ahead of the Kentucky Oaks.The Daredevilfilly had been training during the special 7:30 a.m. training time reserved for Oaks and Derby horses only, but trainer Kenny McPeek said he moved her training up not so much because of the weather, but because it was closer to her usual training time.“She’s always been one of our first horses to train,” McPeek said. “That’s how she likes it. We’re just keeping her happy.”
TEMPERS RISING–Mark and Nancy Stanley’s TempersRising galloped about 1 3/8 miles early Wednesday morning for trainer Dallas Stewart.The daughter of Bayern is scheduled to school in Race 6 on Wednesday.
Photo Credit: Churchill Downs/Coady Photography
