[Kasept]

Easy summary of the important morning machinations of Derby/Oaks participants Thursday as UNCLE MO couldn't have looked happier, heartier or more energetic 48 hours after his Tuesday breeze. The Indian Charlie colt dragged Hector Ramos twice around the Downs, looking at any moment like he would break into full flight if allowed. Whether he is healthy is not even a remote question based on his appearances so far this week, and his Sunday or Monday work figures to be the most anticipated and scrutinized of recent Derby Weeks...

ST.JOHNS RIVER was the major Thursday Oaks worker, and continues to make an outstanding impression. Her splits of :12.2, :23.3, :36.2 and 1:00.4 came with no real encouragement, and could not have been more beautifully laid down. She galloped out 6f in a modest 1:15.2, but had effectively started the work when breaking off in full flight at the three-quarter mark, so was in effect finishing up a 7th furlong on the gallop-out. Andy Leggio's Include daughter, a runner up at 8-1 to Andy McKeever's DAISY DEVINE in the Fair Grounds Oaks, may or may not be good enough to challenge R Heat Lightening and Joyful Victory, but she couldn't be moving toward the Lap for the Lillies any better...

The rest of the morning saw a parade of gallopers, with SHACKLEFORD again flashing his daily, business-minded circuits two and a half times around the oval under Tammy Fox, and will offer a work Friday or Saturday... MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE was back on the main after Tuesday's solid work in company with Mythical Power, and is a broad-backed, well-balanced looking colt that seems to have more to him at a lingering look than he did at first blush... ARCHARCHARCH, DECISIVE MOMENT and MUCHO MACHO MAN all went about their gallops professionally. Archarcharch is impossible not to like. He looks daily like a horse who is concerned that they may not let back him on the racetrack again if he doesn't please his handler and Jinks Fires who observes nearby from his pony...

Back to the gals a moment, as JOYFUL VICTORY deserves another mention for her daily routine of storming around the track with Larry Jones literally standing on her dashboard to keep her from running off. It's hard not to be on her as the Oaks key with the barn's Proud Spell success so easy to recall as a favorite moment of recent Kentucky springs... PLUM PRETTY, LILACS AND LACE, HOLY HEAVENS, KATHMANBLU and DAISY DEVINE, (fresh from her sharp work), all went through their gallops without incident or fanfare...