Lynch considering Woodbine Mile for Oscar Performance

Trainer Brian Lynch was impressed enough with Oscar Performance’s half-mile work on the turf Monday morning that he is now seriously considering running him in the Grade 1, $800,000 Woodbine Mile on Sept. 15.

Oscar Performance, who was pulled up and vanned off as the favorite in the Grade 1 Arlington Million on Aug. 11, worked a half-mile in 48.01 seconds Monday morning over the Oklahoma turf course in Saratoga.

Under jockey Jose Ortiz, Oscar Performance began the work about four lengths off stablemate High Promise, a recent maiden winner at Saratoga, and finished on even terms while getting his last quarter in 23.33. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.56.

As a stakes horse, Oscar Performance was permitted to work inside the orange traffic cones, referred to as dogs, that other horses must work around.

“We’re nominated to it, we’ll see how it comes up – it’d definitely give you the confidence to think about it off that move this morning,” Lynch said of the Woodbine Mile. “His body language in his gallops say he’s in good order.”

The work was the second for Oscar Performance since the Million and since having undergone an examination at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington before rejoining Lynch’s Saratoga stable.

If he runs Oscar Performance in the Woodbine Mile, he can keep him and Heart to Heart separated before the Breeders’ Cup. Heart to Heart is being pointed to the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile on Oct. 6 at Keeneland.