Espresso Shot to have final Kentucky Oaks prep in Gazelle

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After briefly considering training Espresso Shot up to the Kentucky Oaks, her connections have decided to run the New York-bred 3-year-old filly in the Grade, 2, $300,000 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct on April 6.

The Gazelle, like the Kentucky Oaks, is run at 1 1/8 miles around two turns. Espresso Shot has won two straight one-turn mile stakes, including the Busher Stakes on March 9.

“She never went two turns, and going from a mile to a mile and an eighth first time in a Grade 1 I think would be too much to ask,” trainer Jorge Abreu said. “The competition is going to be much tougher in the Oaks. I’d rather see how she handled [the distance] and take it from there.”

Trainer Chris Englehart fined

Trainer Chris Englehart was fined by the New York stewards for violating a state rule when he ran the horse Devine Entry at Parx on March 12.

State law states that a horse claimed in New York shall not race outside of New York for a period of 30 days from the date of the claim or the end of the race meeting at which it was claimed, whichever period of time is longer. Devine Entry was claimed on Dec. 9 – the second day of the winter meet, which doesn’t end until March 31.

Devine Entry won the $25,000 claiming race at Parx but was disqualified for being ineligible and owner Thomas Viverito had to forfeit the $16,800 first-place purse. Devine Entry was claimed, but the Parx stewards voided the claim.

Englehart was originally fined $1,500 but had it reduced to $1,000 for waiving his right of appeal.