KENTUCKY OAKS 135 NOTES — Baffert's Gabby's Golden Gal, Lukas' Be Fair Breeze On Rainy Morning

Apr 20, 2009 by Gary Yunt

BE FAIR – Thomas Van Meter and Charles Kidder’s Be Fair breezed five-eighths of a mile in a move that trainer D. Wayne Lukas described as “fantastic” on Monday morning over a track rated as “sloppy” with exercise rider Omar Golon up.
“She was flying through the lane,” Lukas said. “I got her in :23 in the lane.”

GABBY’S GOLDEN GIRL – Arnold Zetcher LLC’s Gabby’s Golden Girl worked five furlongs in 1:02 with former rider Joe Steiner board for the move after the renovation break over a sloppy track.
    “I got her in 1:27-and-four for the seven-eighths,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “I worked her seven, but started at the five-eighths pole. She started off a little slow, but picked it up strong. She did not get tired and that was a tiring track this morning.”
   
NAN – J. Paul Reddam’s Nan jogged a mile after the renovation break with exercise rider Jose Castanon up.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA – L and M Partner’s Rachel Alexandra, the likely favorite for Kentucky Oaks 135, had the morning off as scheduled and walked the shedrow according to Brent McClellan, assistant to trainer Hal Wiggins.

KENTUCKY OAKS 135 ARRIVAL SCHEDULE – Two potential Kentucky Oaks starters are scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Wednesday afternoon. The West Point Thoroughbreds’ duo of Justwhistledixie and Fitz Just Right, currently stabled at Keeneland, are expected to train at the Lexington track that morning and ship over to Louisville in the afternoon.
    Another Oaks hopeful at Keeneland, Mike Rutherford’s Flying Spur, will ship into trainer Bill Mott’s Barn 19 upon arrival at Churchill Downs.