Rags to Riches tunes up for Oaks

Rags to Riches is the likely favorite for the Oaks (Benoit Photo) Over Keeneland's Polytrack on Sunday, likely Kentucky Oaks (G1) favorite RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy) drilled five-eighths in 1:00 1/5 while working in company with Kentucky Derby (G1) threat Circular Quay (Thunder Gulch). Exercise rider Loren Robson was aboard the strapping filly, who hugged the rail as her smaller stablemate kept pace on the outside. The Todd Pletcher-trained pair matched strides through an opening quarter in :24 3/5. The clockers missed the half-mile split along the way, but they did get the dynamic duo galloping out six furlongs in 1:12, still side by side. "I liked (Rags to Riches') work," Pletcher said. "She's been winning all her races on the outside, so we're schooling her here by putting her down on the inside. You can't get any dirt kick-back here, but you can teach them about being in tight. Angel (Cordero Jr. on Circular Quay) was leaning on her a little bit, but that's what we wanted. This was some good education for her. The work will suit her well." A half-sister to last year's Belmont S. (G1) hero Jazil (Seeking the Gold), Rags to Riches is currently riding a three-race winning streak, all at Santa Anita. After breaking her maiden in her second career start by six lengths, the blaze-faced chestnut overcame a ludicrously wide trip to capture the Las Virgenes S. (G1). Last time out, Rags to Riches turned the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) into a procession, coasting home by 5 1/2 lengths. Regular rider Garrett Gomez will be aboard on Friday, when she is expected to face a full field of 13 rivals in the Oaks.

On the fast track at Churchill Downs, Ashland S. (G1) third DAWN AFTER DAWN

(Successful Appeal) worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 beneath jockey Robby

Albarado.

"Robby's happy and I'm happy," trainer Wesley Hawley said. "She went off with

her neck bowed down the backside, and when Robby asked her, she had her ears

pricked. She did it easy."

Dawn After Dawn has yet to win a stakes, but she has been performing

creditably all year. The bay wintered at Fair Grounds, where she finished second

in the Tiffany Lass S. and posted a pair of fourths in the Silverbulletday S.

(G3) and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). In her latest venture, Dawn After Dawn rallied

for third in the Ashland, beaten less than a length by Christmas Kid (Lemon Drop

Kid) and Oaks rival Octave (Unbridled's Song).

Hawley is sounding a very confident note.

"Nobody is afraid of Rags to Riches or Octave, and certainly not us, but they

should be," Hawley noted. "I think she is going to run big."

Dawn After Dawn may school in the paddock on Wednesday and will probably

visit the gate.

At Santa Anita, Sunland Park Oaks winner TOUGH TIZ'S SIS (Tiznow) blasted six

furlongs in 1:11 2/5, best of three moves at the distance on the fast track.

"I really only worked her five (furlongs)," trainer Bob Baffert revealed,

"but she galloped out so strong they gave her the six (furlong) time. I had her

going the five-eighths in :59 and two.

"I liked her work," he continued. "Good horses work good, so that's no

surprise. We'll be shipping Wednesday -- both me and the horse -- and then

Friday we'll find out whether she's good enough."

After breaking her maiden by 6 1/4 lengths at Hawthorne in December, Tough

Tiz's Sis was sold and transferred to Baffert. In her third start for her new

conditioner, she cruised by 3 3/4 lengths at Sunland.

Martin Garcia was in the saddle for Sunday's exercise, but regular pilot

Victor Espinoza has the call for the Oaks.