R. Heat Lightning, Kathmanblu work in the slop

Two fillies likely to be among the top betting choices for the May 6 Kentucky

Oaks (Grade 1) -- R. Heat Lightning, winner of the Gulfstream Oaks (G2) and the

likely Kentucky Oaks favorite, and Golden Rod S. (Grade 2) and Rachel Alexandra

S. (Grade 3) winner Kathmanblu --braved a steady rain and sloppy track

conditions just after the track maintenance break for Saturday workouts at

Churchill Downs.

The Todd Pletcher-trained R Heat Lightning breezed four furlongs in: 49 4/5

under exercise rider Hector Ramos. Fractional splits for the work were :12 2/5,

:24 4/5 and :37 1/5,  and she galloped out five furlongs in 1:03 2/5.

"I thought she handled it pretty well," Pletcher said. "She looked a little

unsure when she first went off, she was kind of pricking her ears and looking at

it (the track) a little bit. But once she settled in, she went fine and I

thought her gallop-out was particularly good.

"You're always a little concerned when you go out in conditions like that,

but I think Churchill is one of the few places where you can kind of feel OK

about it. It seems to handle bad weather well."

Kathmanblu worked five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 in a move trainer Ken McPeek as a

"maintenance work." Exercise rider Will Aldana was in the saddle as she worked

in company with four-year-old male stablemate Noble's Promise, who ran fifth

behind Super Saver in last year's Kentucky Derby and is scheduled to compete in

the May 7 Churchill Downs S. (Grade 2).

Fractional times for the move were :13 1/5, :25 2/5, :37 2/5 and :49 4/5.

Noble's Promise, who worked on the outside of Kathmanblu, was a neck in front of

the Oaks contender at the finish.

"We just wanted her to stretch out," McPeek said. "Noble's Promise needed a

work mate and she needed to do something over it, and it was good. We let him

gallop out because he hadn't run in four or five months."

Kathmanblu is coming off a third-place finish behind Lilacs and Lace as the

favorite in Keeneland's Ashland S. (Grade 1), which was run over Polytrack.

McPeek's filly endured a wide journey during most of that 1 1/16-mile race

"We ran the best filly in the Ashland, but that's just the way the ball

bounced," McPeek said.

Lilacs and Lace breezed five furlongs

in company with stablemate Tag V Eye in :59 at Keeneland Saturday in

her penultimate breeze before the Kentucky Oaks.

"She looked awesome, fantastic," trainer John Terranova said. "She's in great

shape, and I think she's continuing to move forward since the Ashland, so

perfect timing going into the Oaks. Hopefully she just stays good the next

couple weeks and we'll go over there in good shape."

Lilacs and Lace has been under the care of Terranova for her last two starts

after shipping to the East Coast from her initial California base. In addition

to her Ashland victory, she had a fourth-place finish to Summer Soiree in the Bourbonette Oaks

(Grade 3) in her first start for Terranova. Saturday morning's breeze

marked her first move since the Ashland.

"She was just cruising out there," Terranova said. "I got her home pretty

quick. She was the last quarter in under :23 -- just cruising."

Lilacs and Lace will ship to Churchill Downs in several days and have her

final breeze for the Oaks next Saturday, six days before the race.

Tag V Eye, third in an allowance at Keeneland on April 10, is a possibility

for the American Turf S. (Grade 2) on Oaks Day, Terranova said, but he may opt for

another allowance race.

Summer Soiree worked six furlongs in 1:10 4/5 at Keeneland on her own under

jockey Gabriel Saez. A winner of her past two starts by a combined 20 1/2

lengths, Summer Soiree is scheduled to ship to Churchill Wednesday or Thursday

along with Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) candidate and stablemate Animal Kingdom.

"The filly worked very quickly," Motion said. "Gabe won't work her next week,

but he will ride her in the Oaks."

In other Oaks news:

Trainer Benard Chatters had hoped to work Martha Washington S. winner Holy

Heavens on Saturday, but decided to wait on that move because of the weather.

Chatters she can work on Sunday

Trainer Larry Jones has arrived in Louisville to oversee the Oaks

preparations by Joyful Victory, an easy winner this year of the Fantasy S.

(Grade 2) and Honeybee S. (Grade 3). Jones, who won the 2008 Oaks with Proud

Spell, said Joyful Victory would work on Monday

Fantasy runner-up Arienza came out of a Friday work well, according to

trainer Dan Peitz. The daughter of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri breezed four

furlongs over a fast track in :49 2/5. Peitz said the Kentucky Oaks remains an

option for his filly, but the $100,000 Eight Belles S. (Grade 3) on May 6 could

be a more likely spot for Arienza's fourth career start

Fair Grounds Oaks (Grade 2) runner-up St. John's River galloped over

Saturday's sloppy going. Trainer Andrew Leggio Jr. said she would work on

Thursday and would be ridden in the Oaks by Rosie Napravnik. Also galloping was

Plum Pretty, a 25-length winner of the Sunland Oaks, who went to the track after

the break for trainer Bob Baffert.