Intricate on track for Fair Grounds Oaks

Intricate came out of her second-place finish Feb. 17 in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes in good shape and remains on track to make her next start March 23 in the Fair Grounds Oaks, trainer Brendan Walsh said Sunday.

Walsh hopes to get Intricate to the Kentucky Oaks, which he won last year with Pretty Mischievous. Champion 3-year-old filly of 2023, Pretty Mischievous had her first work as a 4-year-old last week in Florida.

Intricate was fifth sprinting in her career debut late last summer before going 2 for 2 in dirt-route races, the second a decisive score in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Keeneland. Walsh said before the Rachel Alexandra he expected Intricate to improve in her second start this season.

“All we wanted was for her was to have a good run. That race should put her spot on,” Walsh said.

The Rachel Alexandra was contested over a sloppy, sealed track, the first wet surface over which the filly has raced. She was fifth to the homestretch and while finishing solidly could only get within 2 3/4 lengths of victorious Tarifa, the Brad Cox-trained filly who has the Fair Grounds Oaks and the Ashland at Keeneland as next-race options. As she had done in recent workouts, Intricate switched back to her “wrong” lead in deep stretch in the Rachel Alexandra.

“A lot of horses seem to do that at the Fair Grounds, for some reason. Pretty Mischievous did it, too,” said Walsh.

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