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Leslie’s Rose after winning the Ashland (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
Keeneland Barn Notes
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Trainer Todd Pletcher reported Saturday morning that both of his runners from Friday’s $600,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) “came back well” and now might be on separate paths going forward.
Whisper Hill Farm’s Leslie’s Rose is headed to Churchill Downs with a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the 150th running of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 3 following her 3-length victory in the Central Bank Ashland.
“We are trying to sort things out, and we will let the dust settle from today,” Pletcher said. “The Oaks and Derby horses have to be on the grounds by 11 a.m. on April 27.”
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Candied, who finished fourth as the favorite, most likely lost her chance to make the Oaks. She picked up 15 qualifying points Friday to boost her total to 34, a figure good for 18th place on the leaderboard for the race that is limited to the top 14 point earners.
“It is too early to say on her, but she is pretty far down the list with two races to go today,” Pletcher said. “The ($300,000 George E. Mitchell) Black-Eyed Susan (G2) (at Pimlico on May 17) or the (DK Horse) Acorn (G1) (June 7) are possible. The Acorn is at Saratoga this year, and it is a mile and an eighth.”
The Central Bank Ashland was the first start of the year for Candied, who won the Darley Alcibiades (G1) here last fall.
“I thought it was a tough assignment for her,” Pletcher said. “She got shuffled back and had to make up a lot of ground.”
George Krikorian’s homebred Just F Y I, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2023, secured her spot in the Oaks starting gate with a runner-up finish in the Central Bank Ashland. She returned to trainer Bill Mott’s base at Churchill Friday evening.
