Winngate Stables' unbeaten Kathleen O., who is atop the points leaderboard for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 6 at Churchill Downs, worked four furlongs in :48.60 Saturday morning at Keeneland for trainer Shug McGaughey.
According to Keeneland clockers, the Upstart filly galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 and six furlongs in 1:15.80 after clocking splits of :12.80, :25.60, and :37.40 under exercise rider David Jego. (Click here for a video of the workout.)
“I was hoping to see just what I saw,” McGaughey said. “She does not need a whole lot (of training). She is coming off a race two weeks ago. (The time and the gallop out) were just what I was looking for. So far we are right on track.”
Kathleen O. opened her career last November with a victory at Aqueduct. She has won three stakes this year at Gulfstream Park: the one-mile Cash Run by 8½ lengths on New Year's Day, the one-mile Davona Dale (G2) on March 5, and the 1 1/16-mile Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) on April 2.
“She has been a pleasant surprise,” McGaughey said. “She continues to amaze. She gets better and better. I waited (to give her the first race) because she is a big, tall filly. We finally ran her and then ran her back in a stakes, which is really not my style. I have been amazed at her progression. She does what she does easy.”
Kathleen O. is scheduled to have one more timed work at Keeneland and then ship to Churchill for her final work before the Oaks.
“We brought her to Keeneland because horses thrive here in the spring,” McGaughey said. “I don't think adapting to a new track (at Churchill) will be a problem.”
Kathleen O., who sold as a weanling at Keeneland's 2019 November Breeding Stock Sale, is the first horse owned by octogenarian Patrick Kearney, a golfing acquaintance of McGaughey who campaigns as Winngate Stables. McGaughey said Kearney has received offers to buy the filly, but at this point she is not for sale.
“He is enjoying the attention he is getting,” McGaughey said. “He is in it to enjoy racing. He is in it to have a good time.”
In addition to Kathleen O., two other fillies with designs on a start in the Kentucky Oaks put in half-mile works Saturday morning.
Tsunebumi and Sekie Yoshihara's Yuugiri, winner of the Fantasy (G3) in her most recent start, covered the distance in :50 with trainer Rodolphe Brisset aboard. (Click here for a video of the work.)
Don't Tell My Wife Stables and trainer Keith Desormeaux's Bourbonette Oaks winner, Candy Raid, was clocked in :50.40.
Yuugiri has accumulated 114 points toward the Kentucky Oaks and is fourth on the leaderboard. Saturday's work was her first since returning to Keeneland from Oaklawn Park, where she spent the winter.
“You could see it a lot of times when horses would come here from Florida with the change in the air, the change in the weather that they would just blossom, and you can see it,” Brisset said. “She is doing that, and I am very pleased with her.”
Yuugiri made her first three starts last year at Churchill Downs, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the Golden Rod (G2).
“Right now, I am leaning to staying here for her next two works (before the Oaks),” Brisset said. “She has raced at Churchill, and we know she likes the track.”
Desormeaux indicated that Candy Raid would work again here next week and ship to Churchill on April 28 and have her final work for the Oaks beneath the Twin Spires.
Candy Raid has 51 points toward the Oaks, good for 13th place and a spot in the starting gate for the race, which is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box May 2.
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