Kentucky Oaks next stop for Zazu

Zazu, the winner of the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes in February and the runner-up in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on March 5, will make her next start in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6, trainer John Sadler said.

Sadler said he does not plan to start Zazu in the April preps for the Kentucky Oaks, such as the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park or the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.

“We’ll wait for the Kentucky Oaks,” Sadler said. “I think she’ll like Churchill Downs, too, especially if it’s muddy.”

A winner of 2 of 7 starts and $290,985 for owners Jerry and Ann Moss, Zazu rallied through the stretch of the Santa Anita Oaks over 1 1/16 miles, but missed catching race winner Turbulent Descent by a neck.

The Sadler-trained Twirling Candy has returned to racetrack training and could make his next start in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap over 1 1/16 miles at Hollywood Park on May 7, though Sadler said that is only a preliminary plan.

Sidney’s Candy, unraced since winning the Grade 3 Sir Beaufort Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, worked a half-mile in 49 seconds on Friday. Sidney’s Candy missed the Frank Kilroe Mile on March 5 because of a quarter crack, and is being pointed for the $150,000 Arcadia Stakes over a mile on turf on April 9, Sadler said.