The dust has settled after a thrilling 14-race card Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, with the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) and Oaks (G2) in the rearview mirror. Both the local Derby and Oaks offered 100-40-20-10 qualifying points for the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, and the April 30 Longines Kentucky Oaks, and several of the top finishers emerged with both races firmly on their calendar.
The connections for several of the major players had a chance to sleep on the results, evaluate how their respective horses came out of their races, and plot a path to Churchill Downs. Fair Grounds media caught up with several trainers Sunday morning to get their thoughts moving forward.
(For comments on the Louisiana Derby, click here).
Fair Grounds Oaks:
Brad Cox, trainer, Travel Column (1st): She'll go to Churchill later this week (with Mandaloun). She came out of it good, scoped good, looked good. I was super happy with her. She's a good work horse and she should be fit. She's had two races and that was our plan all along, to come down here and run twice and have a horse who is the third race off the layoff (in the Kentucky Oaks). It's similar with what we're doing with Essential Quality (for the Derby). It's a really good rivalry (with Clairiere). I was confident with the race unfolded and I think she'll be able to get another 1/16th of a mile. She's by a son of Tapit (Frosted) and she showed in the Golden Rod she can come from off of it as well.
Scott Blasi, assistant trainer to Steve Asmussen, Clairiere (2nd): I love Clairiere stretching out to a mile and an eighth. The pace yesterday was very moderate and it really didn't benefit her running style. I thought it was an A-effort considering everything and she should move forward a lot off of it. With her breeding and her running style, the distance at Churchill should really benefit her.
David Carroll, assistant trainer to Mark Casse, Souper Sensational (3rd): She came out of the race good, cleaned up her feed, all is well. Talking to Mark, and he'll be in contact with Mrs. (Charlotte) Weber (owner), we'll get her up north and prepare her for the Oaks, and if everything looks good, we'll take a shot. She'll leave Tuesday night for Churchill and we'll train her there and see how she's doing and make a decision closer to the race. Based on yesterday she deserves the chance. We'll let her get settled in up there and go from there.
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