Rafael Bejarano

Churchill Downs is offering daily updates on the Kentucky Oaks contenders.  Read through the notes below to see how your favorite is training up to the big race!

BE FAIR – Trainer D Wayne Lukas said Tuesday morning that Rafael Bejarano will ride Be Fair in the 135th Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) on May 1.

Owned by Thomas Van Meter and Charles Kidder, Be Fair walked the shedrow at Barn 44 a day after a five-eighths of a mile breeze.

FITZ JUST RIGHT / JUSTWHISTLEDIXIE – The West Point Thoroughbreds’ Oaks hopeful duo of Fitz Just Right and Justwhistledixie are scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Wednesday afternoon after training at Keeneland.

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, the two fillies will be stabled in Barn 42, Stalls 8-9 upon arrival.

Justwhistledixie, whose five race win streak includes a recent victory in the Bonnie Miss (GII) at Gulfstream Park, and Fitz Just Right, runner-up in the Bourbonette Oaks (GIII) at Turfway Park, are scheduled to work on Friday and McLaughlin will be at Churchill Downs to supervise those moves.

Ramon Dominguez is slated to ride Fitz Just Right and Julien Leparoux has the mount on Justwhistledixie, whom he rode to victory in the Grade II Bonnie Miss in her most recent start on March 29.   

GABBY’S GOLDEN GIRL – Patti and Hal Earnhardt’s Gabby’s Golden Girl walked the shedrow at Barn 33 a day after working five furlongs in 1:02 for trainer Bob Baffert.

“She’s good,” said Baffert.  “She’s tough, but man, that Rachel Alexandra is something.”

Baffert said Gabby’s Golden Girl would likely work Sunday or Monday to complete her preparation for the Kentucky Oaks.

Victor Espinoza has the Oaks riding assignment.

NAN – J. Paul Reddam’s Nan galloped a mile after the renovation break with exercise rider Jose Castanon up.

Trainer Craig Dollase said that Corey Nakatani will ride Nan in the Oaks. The High Yield filly is scheduled to work Friday or Saturday.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA – L and M Partners’ Rachel Alexandra galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break under regular exercise rider Rudy Gallegos.

Calvin Borel, who has ridden Rachel Alexandra to four consecutive victories, has the Oaks riding assignment.

Bo Hirsch’s homebred Papa Clem, winner of the $1 million Arkansas Derby (Grade II) on April 11 at Oaklawn Park, arrived at Churchill Downs late Tuesday afternoon to continue his preparation for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).

    Papa Clem flew from Arkansas to Lexington, Ky., then traveled just over an hour by van to Churchill Downs.  He arrived at the Louisville track at 5:30 p.m. (all times EDT) and took up residence in Barn 10A, which houses horses trained by Cody Autrey.

    The Gary Stute-trained Papa Clem was ridden by former Churchill Downs leading rider Rafael Bejarano when the son of Smart Strike won the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby on April 11.  The victory was his first stakes triumph and improved his record to 2-2-0 in six races and lifted his earnings to $790,940.

    The arrival of Papa Clem raises the number of likely Kentucky Derby contenders on the grounds to seven.  The others are Wood Memorial (GI) winner I Want Revenge; Toyota Blue Grass (GI) winner General Quarters; Illinois Derby (GII) winner Musket Man; and Regal Ransom and Desert Party, Godolphin’s 1-2 finishers in the $2 million UAE Derby (GII).

    Seven horses trained by three-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert – headed by Kentucky Oaks (GI) candidate Gabby’s Golden Gal and multiple stakes winner Indian Blessing – arrived at Churchill Downs on Tuesday afternoon.  The Baffert horses settled into Barn 33, the trainer’s tradition spot under the Twin Spires.  Baffert’s Kentucky Derby contender, Zayat Stable’s Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Pioneerof the Nile, is scheduled to arrive at the Louisville track on Thursday, April 16.

    Gabby’s Golden Gal, a 13-length winner of the Sunland Park Oaks, joins likely favorite Rachel Alexandra as the only Kentucky Oaks candidates on the grounds.  Indian Blessing, runner-up to Big City Man in the $2 million Golden Shaheen at Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba on March 28, is set to run in the Humana Distaff (GI) on Kentucky Derby Day.

    The Baffert group also included 3-year-olds Mythical Power and Turk.  Both are nominated to the $100,000-added Derby Trial (GIII) on April 25, the opening day of the track’s Spring Meet.  Diamond Tags, a 3-year-old filly nominated to the $100,000 Eight Belles (GIII) on Kentucky Derby Day, is also settling in at the Baffert barn.