Enticed, Take Charge Paula drill for Kentucky Derby, Oaks

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It was 73 degrees, the wind was calm, the sky was sunny, and the racetrack in perfect condition when Kentucky Derby contender Enticed and his multiple Grade 2-placed workmate Take Charge Paula came out to breeze shortly after the renovation break Thursday at Palm Meadows. Conditions were so perfect that trainer Kiaran McLaughlin may never want to leave South Florida this spring.

Enticed was very eager well before the work began at the half-mile pole. He was asked to pick up the pace at the sixteenth pole, and edged clear of Take Charge Paula to the wire in 48.20 seconds. Enticed continued along willingly under additional encouragement into the turn, completing five furlongs in 1:01.20.

The work was the first for Enticed since his second-place finish to Vino Rosso in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial 12 days prior, and the first of two morning preps he’ll have at Palm Meadows prior to shipping to Louisville for the Derby.

“It was an excellent work,” McLaughlin said after his star 3-year-olds had pulled up. “I’m very happy. We’ve changed up a little bit of his training because he was pulling up quickly after his works. So, we decided to let him pull up in a different spot today, and he galloped out strongly.”

Although the final local flight to Kentucky prior to the Derby is scheduled for Tuesday, McLaughlin said conditions are so good right here that he plans to keep Enticed at Palm Meadows for his final work next week and then van him to Louisville the Sunday before the race.

“We know he likes the track, and the weather is great, so why change things now?” said McLaughlin.

Take Charge Paula, who finished second in both the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks and Grade 2 Davona Dale after winning the Grade 3 Forward Gal here this winter, was equipped with blinkers for the first time Thursday.

“I thought Paula worked well also,” said McLaughlin. “She had blinkers on for the first time this morning, and we’ll talk about it before deciding whether to run her in them next time.”

McLaughlin said Take Charge Paula is nominated to the seven-furlong Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 4, but likely will make her next start in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs the same day.

Caledonia Road, last year’s champion juvenile filly, won’t make the Oaks, but she gave every indication that she’s finally ready to launch her 3-year-old campaign by working five furlongs in splits of 24.58, 36.67, and 1:01.22 at Palm Meadows on Thursday. Caledonia Road broke off about four lengths behind stablemate Table for Six and was edging away at the wire on her own.

Trainer Ralph Nicks said the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont on June 9 is the first goal for Caledonia Road.

“Good move, went off nice and easy, finished up in hand, galloped out good,” trainer Ralph Nicks said. “She’s really come around now. She’ll ship to Belmont Park on Sunday. We’ll start looking for a spot to get her started.”

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