Gabby's Golden Gal gets over Churchill slop

Kentucky Oaks (G1) candidate GABBY'S GOLDEN GAL (Medaglia d'Oro) worked five

furlongs in 1:02 over the sloppy main track at Churchill Downs on Monday. Former

rider Joe Steiner was aboard for the move after the renovation break.

"I got her in 1:27 4/5 for the seven-eighths," said trainer Bob Baffert,

whose induction into the Hall of Fame was announced Monday. "I worked her seven

(furlongs), but started at the five-eighths pole. She started off a little slow,

but picked it up strong. She did not get tired and that was a tiring track this

morning."

Gabby's Golden Gal will enter the Oaks off a 13-length victory in the Sunland

Park Oaks on March 29.

The D. Wayne Lukas-trained BE FAIR (Exchange Rate) was also on the track

Monday, breezing five furlongs, but it was not officially credited as a workout

by Churchill clockers. Omar Golon was up for the move, which Lukas described as

"fantastic."

"She was flying through the lane," Lukas said. "I got her in :23 in the

lane."

Be Fair won her first two starts at Oaklawn over the winter, then finished

fourth in both the Honeybee S. (G3) and Ashland S. (G1).

It was a quiet morning for other Oaks candidates stabled at Churchill and

Keeneland.

Likely Oaks favorite RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) had the morning off as

scheduled and walked the shedrow according to Brent McClellan, assistant to

trainer Hal Wiggins. NAN (High Yield) jogged a mile after the renovation break

with exercise rider Jose Castanon up.

Two potential Kentucky Oaks starters are scheduled to arrive at Churchill

Downs on Wednesday afternoon. The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained duo of 

JUSTWHISTLEDIXIE (Dixie Union) and FITZ JUST RIGHT (Seattle Fitz [Arg]),

currently stabled at Keeneland, are expected to train at the Lexington track

that morning and ship over to Louisville in the afternoon.

Another Oaks hopeful at Keeneland, FLYING SPUR (Giant's Causeway), will ship

into trainer Bill Mott's Barn 19 upon arrival at Churchill Downs.