Mandella still not sure if Soothsay will run in Kentucky Oaks

The Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on April 30 may not be in the plans for Soothsay, the undefeated winner of the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 3.

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Trainer Richard Mandella cautioned on Friday that he does not want to run Soothsay in the Kentucky Oaks unless she is in outstanding condition, reiterating a point of view expressed in recent weeks.

“I’ll be watching her real close this week,” he said. “I’m a little hesitant to push her another time. She’ll have to be jumping out of her skin and she might be.”

Mandella said the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on May 30 is an alternative for Soothsay, who won her stakes debut against three rivals in the Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles. The Kentucky Oaks is run at 1 1/8 miles.

Soothsay finished a half-length in front of Beautiful Gift, the 9-10 favorite. Beautiful Gift worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Friday for the Kentucky Oaks or the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on May 14.

“I’m still on the fence,” trainer Bob Baffert said.