Donna Veloce still targeting Kentucky Oaks

Donna Veloce, a graded stakes winner earlier this year, and one of the nation’s leading 2-year-old fillies in 2019, is scheduled to return to trainer Simon Callaghan’s stable in June after a month-long break at a Florida farm.

Donna Veloce remains a long-range candidate for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs, Callaghan said.

“She had a tiny setback, but she’s in some light training at the farm,” Callaghan said earlier this month. “We’ve got time on our side now in regards to the Kentucky Oaks.

“We’re still hopeful we can make the Kentucky Oaks. If that comes too soon, we’ll focus on the Breeders’ Cup.”

Owned by Kaleem Shah and the Coolmore syndicate, Donna Veloce has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $490,000. Last fall, she was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita in her stakes debut and second in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos, going off favored in both races.

Donna Veloce won the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 8 at Santa Anita in her lone start this year.

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