Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) possible starters Street Storm and St. John's River had tune-ups at Churchill Downs April 28.
Street Storm, who is currently ranked 17th on the graded earnings list of Oaks contenders and is more likely to run in Churchill’s May 6 Edgewood Presented by Kentucky National Insurance, worked five furlongs in 1:03. Trained by Steve Margolis for Right Time Racing, her splits were :13 2/5, :26 flat, :38 1/5, and :50 4/5. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:17.
“It was just a maintenance work for her,” trainer Steve Margolis said. “She is not a good work horse when she is by herself. She prefers turf and will probably go in the Edgewood."
There is a slim chance Street Storm, a daughter of Stormy Atlantic who most recently captured the March 8 Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Grounds, could make it to the starting gate for the Oaks if enough other fillies end up not running in the race, which is limited to 14 starters. In all, the filly has won or placed in three of seven races and has earned $62,240.
St. John's River, a homebred owned by Dede McGehee, breezed five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 and was ranked the second fastest of 23 horses at that distance. Trained by Andrew Leggio, St. John’s River ran splits of :12 2/5, :24 3/5, :36 2/5, and :48 2/5. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:15 2/5.
“I thought it went OK,” trainer Andy Leggio said. “She was in hand and it was a nice work. She will get two days off and go back to the track Sunday (May 1) and gallop up to the Oaks and put the finishing touches on.”
St. John’s River, who most recently finished second to Daisy Devine in the March 26 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II), has only raced four times, but has finished in the money in all of her starts. Currently ranked ninth on the graded earnings list, the daughter of Include has earned $136,070.
St. John’s River has worked five furlongs three times in Kentucky since the Fair Grounds Oaks. Two of the works came at Keeneland on Polytrack: 1:00 4/5 April 13 and 1:00. 2/5 April 20.
“Time-wise, (her April 28 work) was about the same, but she seemed to handle this track better,” Leggio said. “I think she is about at her peak and she just needs more distance. I hope this (the 1 1/8-mile Oaks) is it.”