My Miss Mo possible for Kentucky Oaks after sharp work

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Gulfstream Park Oaks runner-up My Miss Mo moved a step closer to joining the field for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 1 at Churchill Downs after turning in a visually impressive half-mile breeze in 48.26 seconds, per Daily Racing Form, over a fast but cuppy track shortly after the second renovation break here Wednesday.

With jockey Micah Husbands aboard, My Miss Mo eased away from the half pole in a leisurely 13.20 before picking up the pace steadily thereafter, completing her final three-eighths in 35.06 while cruising along on her own throughout. She then sustained good energy hugging the rail on the gallop-out, easing up five furlongs in 1:01.24.

Although not present for the breeze, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was quite pleased with what he saw on a video sent to him by his assistant immediately after the work had been completed.

“She wasn’t supposed to do that much. Basically it was just maintenance to let her stretch her legs in her first work back since her last start. But I was very happy so see her finish up so well,” said Joseph, who is attending the 2-year-old sales in Ocala this week.

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Owned in partnership by Averill Racing and Mathis Stable, the rapidly improving My Miss Mo earned a lifetime-best 85 Beyer Speed Figure for her second-place finish to Prom Queen in the 1 1/16-mile Gulfstream Oaks 18 days earlier. In her only other 3-year-old start, My Miss Mo finished a distant second to She Be Smooth while racing in the deeper footing near the inside in the Grade 2 Davona Dale.

“Right now we are still on track for the Oaks but we haven’t finalized our decision just yet,” Joseph explained. “But I like what I see so far and with the announcement yesterday that one of the key contenders came out [Life of Joy], it probably moves us even closer in that direction.”

Although Tyler Gaffalione has ridden My Miss Mo in her last two starts and Husbands worked her on Wednesday, Joseph said he does not have a rider confirmed if he does choose to run her in the Oaks.

“Tyler is committed to Brendan’s filly, so we’ll probably just wait until we get closer to the race before making a decision on a rider,” Joseph advised.

Trainer Brendan Walsh plans to run multiple Grade 2 winner Bella Ballerina in the Oaks.

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