Rachel's Valentina tops Kentucky Oaks worktab

Edited press release from Churchill Downs

Trainer Todd Pletcher put his Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopefuls through their final major works for next Friday’s race with works Thursday morning.

Overnight rain in Louisville left some water on the track Thursday morning with the track condition listed as “good” before the morning renovation break and “fast” after the break.

First to go at 6 a.m. (EDT) was King of Prussia Stable’s Mo d’Amour. With Amy Mullen aboard and working in company with Noble and True, Mo d’Amour clocked a half-mile in :48.20. Fractions for the work were :13, :25, :36.60, :48.20 and a five-eighths out time of 1:00.60 and six furlongs in 1:13.60. The move, over a track labeled as “good,” was the seventh fastest of 22 at the distance.

Next up at 6:40 was Michael Tabor’s Thrilled, who worked in company with Grade I winner Curalina. With Ovel Merida aboard, Thrilled covered five furlongs in 1:00.20 with fractions of :13.20, :25.20, :36.60, :48.20 and out six furlongs in 1:14.20. The move was the second fastest of 12 at the distance.

After the break, Stonestreet Stables’ Rachel’s Valentina, working in company with Caribbean, clocked a half-mile in :47.80 over a track that was upgraded to fast.

With jockey John Velazquez aboard, Rachel’s Valentina posted fractions of :12.80, :24.80, :36.40, :47.80 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.80 and six furlongs in 1:14.20.

“I thought both Rachel’s Valentina and Mo d’Amour worked very well,” Pletcher said. “They got over the surface well, finished strong and galloped out well. I was very pleased with both.”

As for Thrilled, who is 21st on the Oaks leaderboard, Pletcher said, “She worked well, but it is probably a moot point as far as the Oaks. We will look at the ($150,000) Selene ([G3] at 1 1/16 miles on May 15 at Woodbine) or the ($250,000) Black-Eyed Susan ([G2] at 1 1/8 miles on May 20 at Pimlico).”

Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Paola Queen, 15th on the Oaks leaderboard, worked six furlongs before the break in 1:13.60 under exercise rider J.J. Delgado. Fractions on the move were :13, :25.40, :37.20, :49.60, 1:13.60 with gallop-out times of 1:27.20 and 1:41.

Trainer Gustavo Delgado was pleased with the move, noting the last quarter-mile in :24.

“For me, that is good,” Delgado said.

Photo of Rachel's Valentina courtesy Churchill Downs/Coady Photography.