Weep No More one breeze away from Kentucky Oaks start

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Like most of the other 3-year-old fillies headed for the Kentucky Oaks, Weep No More will breeze once more this weekend toward the May 6 filly classic after having a maintenance work last weekend.

On Saturday, Weep No More worked a half-mile in company in 49.20 seconds at Churchill Downs. Weep No More won the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on April 9.

“She came out of the race absolutely great,” said Rusty Arnold, who trains the filly for the Ashbrook Farm of Glenn Bromagen and family. “Her work on Saturday was just to confirm what we thought, that she bounced out well and is looking for more.”

Until winning the Ashland at 30-1, Weep No More was on the extreme fringes of the Oaks picture, dismissed at 85-1 in the lone Oaks futures pool offered last month by Churchill. Then came the stunning announcement on April 17 that the heavy favorite, Songbird, was out of the Oaks because of a lingering fever.

So, now Weep No More is one of perhaps six fillies being considered as among the favorites in the 1 1/8-mile race, along with two she upset in the Ashland, Rachel’s Valentina and Cathryn Sophia. Terra Promessa, Lewis Bay, and Go Maggie Go also figure to attract considerable play.

Churchill Downs linemaker Mike Battaglia said he is leaning toward listing Rachel’s Valentina as a very tepid program favorite, “but after that, it’s awfully tough.”

Weep No More, by Mineshaft, was named for the famous line in “My Old Kentucky Home,” which is sung during the post parade for the Kentucky Derby. So, why the name for a filly?

“It’s really just a nod to some of the things that remind us of being from Kentucky,” said Bo Bromagen, son of Glenn Bromagen and an integral part of the farm operation. “It seemed like a unique way to honor her heritage as well as ours. We figured the next two words of the song that followed [“weep no more, my lady”] made the name lean a little more feminine.”

As of Monday, the connections of at least 22 fillies were expressing interest in the Oaks. One defection over the weekend was Gomo, who at the time was listed at No. 17 on the preference list. As many as 14 can run, with Churchill maintaining an also-eligibles list of up to four. Entries will be taken May 3.