Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Ashland looks like Jaywalk’s next stop
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jaywalk could have her final Kentucky Oaks prep in the Ashland Stakes on opening weekend of the Keeneland spring meet, and the reigning divisional champion probably will need a new jockey if that happens.
Trainer John Servis said Monday that Jaywalk still could run in the Grade 2, $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks on the March 30 Florida Derby undercard at Gulfstream, but that he is leaning toward the Grade 1, $500,000 Ashland on April 6 as a stepping-stone to the May 2 Kentucky Oaks. Both the Gulfstream Park Oaks and Ashland are at 1 1/16 miles.
Jaywalk breezed a half-mile Saturday in 49.20 seconds at the Palm Meadows training center in her first work since she finished fourth as the 1-5 favorite in her 3-year-old debut, the March 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream.
“She’ll work again this weekend, and we’ll make a decision after that,” said Servis.
Javier Castellano, who rode Cathryn Sophia to victory for Servis and Cash Is King in the 2016 Kentucky Oaks, will be aboard for the Saturday breeze. If Jaywalk runs in the Ashland, Castellano becomes the most obvious replacement for Joel Rosario, who has ridden Jaywalk in her last three starts, including her 5 1/2-length triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last fall and in the Davona Dale. As of now, Rosario is scheduled to ride Game Winner in the Santa Anita Derby on the same afternoon as the Ashland.
Servis said that Jaywalk, a gray Cross Traffic filly owned by D. J. Stable and Cash Is King, “wasn’t all that bad” when she faded to fourth behind longshot Jeltrin in the one-mile Davona Dale. “I thought it was a good starting point. The main thing is she came out of the race really, really good. We’re right where we want to be with her now.”
Servis said the fact the overall Oaks picture is fairly unsettled is a point in Jaywalk’s favor. In the Oaks futures offered March 8-10 by Churchill Downs, Bellafina closed as a lukewarm favorite at 9-2, followed by the field (5-1), Jaywalk (7-1), Chasing Yesterday (8-1), Point of Honor (11-1), Serengeti Empress (11-1), and Restless Rider (13-1).
“It’s up in the air,” said Servis. “There are some fillies on the West Coast just getting started, and they might be pretty nice. It’s shaping up as a very competitive spot.”
Meanwhile, trainer George Weaver said Point of Honor will run in the Gulfstream Oaks after the unbeaten Curlin filly breezed five furlongs Friday in 1:03.80 at his Palm Beach Downs base in her third work since she won the Feb. 9 Suncoast at Tampa Bay Downs.
The Ashland, part of the Blue Grass Stakes card, also is expected to mark the seasonal debut of Restless Rider, who is the BC Juvenile Fillies runnerup, and Feedback, unbeaten in two starts and trained by Chad Brown. Both breezed Saturday, with Restless Rider going five furlongs in 1:01.20 at Gulfstream and Feedback going a half-mile in 48.80 seconds at Palm Meadows.
Averill adds another warhorse
It’s not too often you see a 9-year-old get claimed, but that’s the way Rich Averill operates. Averill, the leading owner at the Tampa Bay Downs meet, claimed Oak Bluffs for $25,000 from the third race Sunday at Gulfstream.
“I just love the older horses,” said Averill, whose stable roster includes Adios Nardos (10 years old), Pay Any Price (9), Fire Mission (9), and others age 7 or 8. “They know where the wire is. I’d rather claim them than ones with conditions.”
At his peak, Oak Bluffs, a $5,000 claim by owner-trainer Mary Eppler in November 2015, was a stakes-class turf sprinter in the Mid-Atlantic. He was up late Sunday to win as a 13-10 favorite, marking his 17th career score from 49 starts while increasing his bankroll to $598,806.
Averill enlisted Jorge Navarro to drop the claim, marking the first time they have teamed together as owner and trainer. “The plan is to get the horse ready for Monmouth Park,” said Averill.
◗ A pair of six-furlong stakes Saturday will serve as highlights of the penultimate week of the four-month championship meet. The Grade 3, $100,000 Hutcheson, for 3-year-olds, will be accompanied by the $75,000 Any Limit for 3-year-old fillies.