Ekati’s Phaeton solid in Gulfstream Oaks work

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Ekati’s Phaeton showed that she’s ready for next Saturday’s Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks by working five furlongs in 1:00.73 here Friday with jockey Juan Leyva aboard. The 1 1/16-mile Oaks will be Ekati’s Phaeton’s first race going two turns on the main track.

“She galloped strong into the work from the mile pole and then did everything perfect,” trainer Bill Kaplan said. “Juan thought she worked great. I don’t think the two turns should be a problem for her. She’s ready to go.”

In her last start, Ekati’s Phaeton led throughout and outlasted Birdatthewire by a neck to upset the one-mile Davona Dale here at odds of 26-1.

Kaplan also will send out My Point Exactly to make his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 1 Florida Derby next Saturday. My Point Exactly closed his 2-year-old campaign with a pair of victories, including an overnight stakes on the turf at Louisiana Downs in his juvenile finale.

“He’s an endurance horse, so I’m not worried about bringing him back off the layoff; he’ll get the distance,” said Kaplan. “I know there are a couple of horses in there he probably can’t beat at this point, but we’ll get an idea how good he is.”

Little Alexis moved closer to her 2015 debut by working five furlongs in 1:01.60 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.60 here Friday. Little Alexis has not started since finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Keen Ice was the final horse to breeze at Gulfstream on Friday, going five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 1:02.01 in his last major prep prior to next Saturday’s Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.