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Hooh Why may skip Oaks; Dream Empress to rest Mark Hoffman, co-owner of Ashland S. (G1) winner HOOH WHY (Cloud Hopping), said it is doubtful the filly would run back in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 1 at Churchill Downs. One of the main factors is the presence of Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro), a two-time winner at Churchill Downs who crushed four foes on Sunday in the Fantasy S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park. "I was in the parking lot at the hotel and a buddy called me and I listened to the call (of the Fantasy)," Hoffman said. "She (Rachel Alexandra) has the same running style as my filly and it doesn't make much sense to take her on now with so many other races out there to run. As I've said, I want to try my filly on the grass." Hoffman is not sure what he will do next with Hooh Why. "You know, I didn't decide to come here until the last minute and the reason I did is because all those other fillies (from California) would be shipping for the first time and my filly loves to ship," Hoffman said. "I wouldn't say the Oaks is totally out now, but most likely doubtful. There's the Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) at Pimlico (on May 15), the American One Thousand Guineas at Arlington on May 23 -- a lot of races and not too many horses." Also not heading to any Oaks in the short term is DREAM EMPRESS (Bernstein). Trainer Ken McPeek said Dream Empress, who ran seventh in the Ashland, would be headed to his farm on Monday. "She is going to get a break," McPeek said. "There is something wrong with her, and the trip to England (for the June 5 Epsom Oaks [Eng-G1]) is off. She just didn't progress from two to three real well."
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