Major Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) contender Grace Hall posted her final workout before the Run for the Lilies when she breezed four furlongs in :52:10 under exercise rider Carol Fisher on a sloppy track at Palm Meadows Training Center April 29.
Trained by Tony Dutrow, the daughter of Empire Maker is owned by Michael Dubb, Mike Caruso’s Bethlehem Stables, and Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group. The ultra consistent filly enters the Oaks with four wins and two seconds in six starts. She is ranked first on the graded stakes earnings list for the Oaks with $740,000.
“I was told by Carol Fisher that she went very well and (the work) was good,” said Dutrow, who was at his Delaware Park stable when Grace Hall breezed.
“Grace Hall was all ready to go," Dutrow added. "I would have much rather had a nice, beautiful racetrack (to work over) yesterday, but that didn’t happen and it wasn’t going to happen today or tomorrow either. So we had to settle for a sloppy racetrack and a half-mile in :52.10. It was not ideal or what we were hoping for, but I’m not worried or concerned and I hope we get the same result Friday.”
Grace Hall burst onto the racing scene when she scored consecutive victories in the 2011 Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga and the Blue Hen Stakes at Delaware Park.
Following a solid runner-up effort in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Churchill Downs last November, she launched her 3-year-old campaign with another second-place finish in the Feb. 25 Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park.
In her most recent outing at the Florida track, Grace Hall captured the March 31 Gulfstream Oaks Stakes (gr. II) under jockey Javier Castellano, who will be aboard for the Oaks.
In her previous work, Grace Hall covered five furlongs over a fast track at Palm Meadows in 1:01.32 April 20.
Bred in Kentucky by Darley, Grace Hall is out of the Ezzoud mare Season's Greetings and was a $95,000 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase.