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Livin Lovin to scratch from Delaware, aim for CCA Oaks A field of six three-year-old fillies appears likely for the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on July 25. The 1 1/4-mile affair is the final stakes race at Belmont Park before racing moves to Saratoga. Among those on the list is Tempted S. (G3) queen LIVIN LOVIN (Birdstone), who was a troubled fourth in the Acorn S. (G1) in her sophomore bow. Although she is entered twice this weekend at Delaware Park -- in the Delaware Oaks (G2) on Saturday and the Delaware H. (G2) on Sunday -- trainer Steve Klesaris indicated that the filly's next start would come in the CCA Oaks. Livin Lovin is scheduled to breeze seven furlongs Saturday morning at Fair Hill as she prepares for her second start of 2009. The bay, now 2-2-0 from five starts, came off a seven-month layoff to finish an eventful fourth to Gabby's Golden Gal (Medaglia d'Oro) in the June 6 Acorn. "I thought she ran a great race," Klesaris said. "She got slammed out of the gate, wound up being further back than she had ever been, came from six deep -- a lot was going against her coming off a long absence." The other probables are CASANOVA MOVE (Langfuhr), third in the Acorn and Black-Eyed-Susan S. (G2); U.A.E. Oaks heroine DEVOTEE (Elusive Quality), third to FUNNY MOON (Malibu Moon) in an allowance/optional claimer in her return from Dubai; Florida Oaks (G3) winner DON'T FORGET GIL (Kafwain); and multiple Grade 3 queen HIGHTAP (Tapit). Busher S. and Wistful S. victress WHAT A PEAR (E Dubai) is questionable. Don't Forget Gil, who was scratched from the June 27 Mother Goose S. (G1) with an elevated temperature, turned in a bullet work Friday morning at Belmont Park, covering five furlongs in :59.88. The Mark Hennig filly's time was easily the fastest of 17 works at the distance on the fast main track. The CCA Oaks will be her first start back since her eighth-place finish in the Black-Eyed Susan on May 15. "I wouldn't mind the distance, but I do wish we had a more recent race," Hennig said. "It's not ideal going into a mile and a quarter race off a long break. We'll see how she comes out of the work -- we'd like to run her." Although Casanova Move is seeking her first victory since breaking her maiden last August at Saratoga, the Edward Evans homebred has not been off the board in 10 starts on the dirt, and is coming off a third-place finish in the Acorn. "She's doing well -- she's right on schedule," said new trainer Todd Pletcher, who will saddle her for the first time in the CCA Oaks. "The distance is uncharted waters for her and everyone else, but she's is a persistent sort and she always keeps trying, which gives me the impression she can handle it." Funny Moon, a disappointing eighth in the Acorn, rebounded from that effort with an 8 1/4-length victory going a mile in an optional claimer on July 3. "We really don't know what happened in the Acorn," trainer Christophe Clement said. "I don't know whether it was the crowd, but she was anxious and worried. She came out of the race fine." Funny Moon had her final tune-up for the CCA Oaks on Thursday, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.76 on the main track. "She worked well yesterday," Clement said. "She's a nice, improving filly, so we'll see what happens." Godolphin Stable's Devotee was a distant third to Funny Moon in her North American reappearance, stalking the pace in the mile contest before finishing evenly in the mud. Rick Mettee, Godolphin's North American racing manager and assistant to head trainer Saeed bin Suroor, hopes the 10-furlong distance in the CCA Oaks might work to her advantage. "She's probably a little behind these other fillies on form, but going 10 furlongs, you hope that's the equalizer and she might catch up to them," Mettee said. "It's a good race to see if she can get Grade 1 placing." Devotee breezed Friday, traveling six panels in 1:16.49 on the main track. Mettee also reported that Flashing (A.P. Indy), third of three in the Mother Goose stakes won in a romp by Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro), will likely make her next start in the seven-furlong Test S. (G1) at Saratoga on August 8. "The 10 furlongs (of the CCA Oaks) wasn't going to suit her, so we thought we'd shorten her up and try the seven," Mettee said. Hightap, a stablemate of Rachel Alexandra trained by Steve Asmussen, is coming off scores in the Dogwood S. (G3) and Iowa Oaks (G3). Hightap went five furlongs in 1:01.85 last Monday at the Spa and is scheduled to have her final work on Monday before shipping to Belmont Park Tuesday. "She's doing great up here," reported Asmussen's assistant, Scott Blasi, from Saratoga. "This will be her third race off a layoff, and her last two races speak for themselves."
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