Oaks fillies take center stage Thursday at Churchill Downs
Mike Welsch, DRF Live
Three candidates for the wide open Kentucky Oaks turned in their final works for the race Thursday at Churchill Downs including the Todd Pletcher trained duo of Mo d'Amour and Rachel's Valentina.
Despite taking on a good deal of rain the previous day and into the night, the racetrack was officially listed as "good" when opening at 5:45 a.m. Mo d'Amour came out shortly thereafter and breezed a sharp half-mile in 48.08 in company with maiden mate Noble and True, her finial quarter in 23.17 going easily to the wire. Mo d'Amour then galloped out well clear in 1:00.90 before pulling up in 1:13.70.
Rachel's Valentina worked after the break over a track upgraded to "fast" for the special Oaks-Derby session. Going in company with Caribbean, Rachel broke off a length behind, pulled even after an opening quarter in 24.65 then really picked up the pace without need of much coaxing from jockey John Velazquez, coming home in 23.93 to complete a half-mile in 47.58, finishing 1 1/2 lengths clear before galloping out in 1:00.81, pulling up seven-eighths in 1:14.27.
Paola Queen, runner-up in the Gulfstream Oaks, worked six furlongs in 1:13.48 with splits of 25.53, 37.60 and 48.97, finished willingly under some late urging. She galloped out extremely well, seven-eighths in 1:27.02 before pulling up a mile in 1:41.07.
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