Kentucky Oaks looking like full field

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A full gate of 14 3-year-old fillies looks like a good possibility for the May 4 Kentucky Oaks, according to Churchill Downs officials.

Ben Huffman, the racing secretary at Churchill and Keeneland, said Saturday that he knows of at least 11 fillies set to run in the Grade 1, $1 million Oaks, including most of the top horses in the division.

“I’m sure there’ll be a few more to come forward over the next couple of weeks, so I’m guessing we’re going to reach the 14-horse limit, or at least get very close to it,” said Huffman.

Major contenders for the 138th running of the filly classic include On Fire Baby, winner of two stakes at Churchill last fall and an easy winner of the Honeybee at Oaklawn Park last out; Grace Hall, a romping winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks last out; Mamma Kimbo, an impressive winner of the Fantasy Stakes on Wednesday for Bob Baffert; Believe You Can and Summer Applause, the one-two finishers in the Fair Grounds Oaks; and Karlovy Vary and Hard Not to Like, the one-two finishers in the recent Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.

Other known prospects include Killer Graces, Reneesgotzip, Yara, and Zo Impressive.

Entries for the 1 1/8-mile Oaks will be drawn May 1.

Maker’s 46 rematch possible

The top four finishers in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile on Friday at Keeneland could meet again in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, the top undercard event on the May 5 Kentucky Derby undercard.

Data Link, the 12-1 winner in a crowded finish, will run in the Woodford or the Grade 2 Dixie two weeks later on the Preakness undercard, said trainer Shug McGaughey. Data Link won the Maker’s 46 by a neck over Turallure, with Doubles Partner another half-length back in third and Get Stormy another neck back in fourth.

Data Link, bred and owned by Stuart Janney 3rd, was notching his first stakes victory from 10 overall starts.

“He finally got a good chance, and he lived up to all we hoped he was going to be,” said McGaughey.

Went the Day Well breezes

Went the Day Well had his first workout since capturing the March 24 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes, going five furlongs in 1:02 in company Saturday over the Keeneland Polytrack. A colt owned by Team Valor International, Went the Day Well breezed alongside Under Control, a 4-year-old allowance winner.

“It was his first work since a big race, and we still have plenty of time,” said trainer Graham Motion, who said the colt will follow the same work pattern he outlined last year for eventual Derby winner Animal Kingdom, i.e., one more work at Keeneland next Saturday, April 21, followed by a Churchill work on April 28.

◗ Longtime racing official Rick Leigh is scheduled to be released Tuesday from St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood, Ky., after having a kidney removed Thursday. Leigh, 64, was found last month to have renal cell carcinoma. “He is doing fine,” said his stepson, Tyler Picklesimer.