Pletcher will keep Kentucky Oaks-bound Leslie's Rose at Keeneland for now

Leslie’s Rose, winner of the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes on Friday at Keeneland, “came back well” from her victory as trainer Todd Pletcher begins plotting her preparations for the Kentucky Oaks.

Leslie’s Rose, who earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 95 for her three-length win, her third victory in four lifetime starts, will remain at Keeneland for at least the coming days, as Pletcher finalizes his Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks squadron in the remaining points races, and makes workout and shipping plans for all of them.

In addition to champion Fierceness, who won the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30, Pletcher has Be You running in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday afternoon at Keeneland; and Protective and Tuscan Sky in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, hoping to earn their way in to the Derby. Life Talk and Princess Vino hope to join the Oaks lineup from Saturday’s Grade 3 Gazelle at Aqueduct.

“We are trying to sort things out, and we will let the dust settle,” Pletcher said. “The Oaks and Derby horses have to be on the grounds by 11 a.m. on April 27.”

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Meanwhile, divisional champion Just F Y I returned to trainer Bill Mott’s barn at Churchill Downs on Friday evening, a few hours after running second in the Ashland to secure a spot in the Oaks starting gate based on points. Mott said postrace he was not displeased with the filly’s effort, in which she was beaten three lengths while making her first start in five months. She earned a Beyer of 89, also a career high.

Candied update

Grade 1 winner Candied, who made her first start of the year in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes, emerged from her fourth-place effort in good order and has graded stakes targets this spring.

Candied, trained by Todd Pletcher for Eclipse Thoroughbred Racing, won the Grade 1 Alcibiades last fall at Keeneland before running third, beaten less than a length, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She was beaten a total of five lengths in the Ashland.

“I thought it was a tough assignment for her,” Pletcher said. “She got shuffled back and had to make up a lot of ground.”

With two major point-qualifying prep races still to be run on Saturday, Candied ranked 18th on the points list toward the Kentucky oaks. The field is limited to 14 starters. Pletcher said the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan on May 17 at Pimlico or the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes on June 7 at Saratoga could instead be possibilities.

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