My Miss Lilly may point to Kentucky Oaks

Trainer Mark Hennig typically has a conference call on Mondays with the principals of Courtlandt Farm to discuss upcoming plans for their horses. Barring anything unforeseen, Hennig fully expects plans for Gazelle Stakes winner My Miss Lilly to include the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 4.

Hennig said My Miss Lilly came out of the race at Aqueduct “real well and as long as everything’s going well the plan will be to go forward to the Oaks.”

My Miss Lilly won the Gazelle by a half-length over Sara Street. My Miss Lilly ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.42 and was assigned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92. As well as My Miss Lilly ran Saturday, Hennig believes there’s room for improvement.

“I think she’s still learning, too,” Hennig said. “I don’t think she’s a finished product.”

The one thing Hennig knows is, his filly will handle the Oaks' distance of 1 1/8 miles.

“A lot of these preps were a mile-and-a-sixteenth, I’m glad we have the prep at a mile and an eighth,” Hennig said. “I don’t think we have to do a lot of work between now and the first Friday in May.”

Hennig said My Miss Lilly would most likely have one work at Belmont Park and one at Churchill Downs prior to the Oaks.

Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer of Sara Street, said his filly may not go to the Oaks, but a final decision won’t be made for a little while.McLaughlin is planning to run Gulfstream Park Oaks runner-up Take Charge Paula in the Kentucky Oaks.