(Edited press release)

Thomas Van Meter and Charles Kidder’s Be Fair breezed five-eighths of a mile at Churchill Downs in a move that trainer D. Wayne Lukas described as “fantastic” the morning of April 20 over a track rated as sloppy with exercise rider Omar Golon up.

“She was flying through the lane,” Lukas said. “I got her in :23 in the lane.”

Arnold Zetcher’s Gabby's Golden Gal worked five furlongs in 1:02 with former rider Joe Steiner aboard for the move after the renovation break.

“I got her in 1:27-and-four for the seven-eighths,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “I worked her seven but started at the five-eighths pole. She started off a little slow but picked it up strong. She did not get tired, and that was a tiring track this morning.”
 
Two potential Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) starters are scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs the afternoon of April 22. West Point Thoroughbreds’ duo of Justwhistledixie and Fitz Just Right, currently stabled at Keeneland, are expected to train at the Lexington track that morning and ship over to Louisville in the afternoon. The fillies will work at Churchill Downs on April 24 with trainer Kiaran McLaughlin looking on.

Another Oaks hopeful at Keeneland, Mike Rutherford’s Flying Spur, will ship into trainer Bill Mott’s Barn 19 upon arrival at Churchill Downs.