Donna Veloce back in training; Kentucky Oaks remains a possibility

Donna Veloce, second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November, recently returned to trainer Simon Callaghan’s stable at Santa Anita after a springtime rest at a farm in Florida. Donna Veloce remains a candidate for the Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs.

“She’s back galloping,” Callaghan said. “We are planning her first breeze at the end of this month or early July.”

Donna Veloce won the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles by 4 1/4 lengths on March 8 in her only start this year. She was turned out in early April.

“It was a minor setback, but she was kept in some light training,” Callaghan said. “We utilized the water treadmill with her quite a bit.

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“We’ve managed to maintain some fitness. We’ll take it one step at a time, but we haven’t ruled out the Kentucky Oaks.”

Callaghan plans to have runners in the two leading stakes at the Los Alamitos summer meeting that begins Friday. The seven-time stakes winner Bellafina is on schedule to start in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes, a $200,000 race for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs July 4. The same day, Great Power is likely to have his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby, a $150,000 race at 1 1/8 miles.

Friday at Santa Anita, Great Power worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds. Great Power was a well-beaten third in an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option at a mile March 14 in his only start this year.

“As long as he comes out of this work good, I think we’ll be there,” Callaghan said.