Octave likely to run in CCA Oaks

ELMONT, N.Y. - Rags to Riches will pass Saturday's $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks after spiking a fever, but the favorite for the Grade 1 race may come out of the same barn.

On Tuesday, trainer Todd Pletcher reported that of his five other nominees, "very likely Octave is the one most likely to run."

After running second in five consecutive stakes, including the Kentucky Oaks behind Rags to Riches, Octave broke through with a Grade 1 win in the Mother Goose on June 30, in which she edged a stubborn Lady Joanne after a long drive.

"It's coming back in three weeks, but the way she's acting it should be enough time," Pletcher said.

Lady Joanne was not on the Oaks radar screen as of Tuesday. Among those under consideration, the only other graded stakes winner is Coy Coyote, who won the Grade 3 Mazarine Breeders' Cup at Woodbine as a 2-year-old.

Octave's most formidable rival could be Godolphin Stable's Folk, a 10-length maiden winner at Aqueduct last fall. Folk wintered in Dubai, where she won the UAE 1000 Guineas and the UAE Oaks, before finishing 10th against males in the UAE Derby. She would be running in the CCA Oaks off a 112-day layoff.

According to New York Racing Association stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, the other expected starters are Humble Janet, a $30,000 claim by Steve Asmussen who comes off a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks, and the Maryland-based Wow Me Free, a second-level allowance winner at Charles Town last out.

Dinner Break and Rosie's Attitude, who have been running on turf lately, are possible Oaks starters.

Meanwhile, Pletcher reported that Rags to Riches had a good day Tuesday.

"She galloped and seemed more like herself," he said, adding that she may breeze Sunday if things continue to progress well.

Accountforthegold tops Shipman

The meet concludes with the 1 1/16-mile Evan Shipman for New York-breds on Sunday. The one to catch and beat in the $100,000 stakes will be Accountforthegold, who was much the best wiring the Kings Point (109 Beyer Speed Figure) and Gander (110 Beyer) in his last two New York starts.

Expected to give chase are Naughty New Yorker, Organizer, Shuffling Maddnes, and Who What Win. Listed as possible is Sideways Glance.

* Race 3 on Thursday is a $50,000 starter handicap at six furlongs and a rematch between Callmetony and Anew, who finished one-two in an identical spot June 24. Also entered were Lucky Frolic, Karakorum Tuxedo, and Favalora.