Schedule tackles route in Pa. Oaks

Stretching out from six furlongs to a two-turn route race is never easy, let alone doing it in stakes company. So even though Schedule was beaten a head in the Serena's Song at Monmouth Park in July, the race may have signified a breakthrough.

On Monday, Schedule will make her second two-turn start, against nine rivals in the $100,000 Pennsylvania Oaks, one of two supporting stakes on the Pennsylvania Derby undercard at Philadelphia Park.

A 3-year-old filly, Schedule drifted out badly and was disqualified from first in the six-furlong Dearly Precious Stakes at Monmouth Park on June 27. Trainer Alan Goldberg equipped her with blinkers for the Serena's Song at a mile and 70 yards. Schedule showed her usual early foot, but maintained a straight course and fought gamely when Susan's Angel came to her in the stretch.

"I thought she ran great," Goldberg said. "She's bred to go that far; we figured she probably would. In that race Chucky [Lopez] was afraid to take too much hold of her because when you take a hold of her that's when she gets out. But with the blinkers, I think he'll be able to rate her a little bit more."

Schedule, whose dam, Jode, is a half-sister to Spend a Buck, is drawn in post 7 in the mile and 70-yard race. The other speed of the race, Ambition Unbridled, is drawn on the rail and figures to be sent by Ramon Dominguez.

If Schedule and Ambition Unbridled hook up early, the race figures to set up well for Hopelessly Devoted or Taittinger Rose. Hopelessly Devoted came from off the pace to win the Susan's Girl Breeders' Cup at Delaware Park three starts back. She faced a tougher field than this when fourth in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks, before catching a muddy track when second in the Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks.

Taittinger Rose came out of a third-place finish in the Serena's Song to win a second-level allowance race at Saratoga by 7 3/4 lengths. Pat Day rides for Bill Mott.

Van Buren: Baldomera vs. older

Though she is a 3-year-old taking on older fillies and mares, Baldomera looks to be the right one in the $75,000 Steve Van Buren Handicap at seven furlongs.

Baldomera has three wins and two seconds from five starts at Philadelphia Park and is coming off a strong victory in the Pollys Jet at Delaware Park on Aug. 7. There appears to be enough speed in this field to set up her potent late kick.