Woodbine Oaks contenders put in works

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Paladin Bay, the likely favorite for this Sunday’s $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, recorded her final work for the race on the main track here Sunday, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.00 with jockey Gerry Olguin in the irons.

“She did it easy,” said trainer Harold Ladouceur. “She galloped out really well, too. That’s what I was looking for.”

Trainer Roger Attfield has three fillies on target for the Oaks – Llanarmon, Unspurned, and Storm Now – who all worked six furlongs Friday.

Llanarmon worked in company with Tower of Texas, who will start in next Sunday’s $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes. Attfield said Unspurned’s work was the most impressive of the three.

“She worked unbelievable,” he said. “Her gallop-out time was really, really good. I needed that from her because she’s only had the one race the whole year.”

Trainer Mark Casse will have two starters in the Oaks. Wild Catomine, the winner of the May 10 Fury Stakes, breezed five furlongs here Thursday, while Lexie Lou breezed Saturday.

Other confirmed starters for the Oaks include Gdansk for trainer Nicholas Gonzalez and Hot and Spicy, who will ship in from Saratoga for the race.

Trainer Ashlee Brnjas said Sunday that Call Her Karma likely would be supplemented to the Oaks after her breeze Saturday.

The probable Oaks field currently stands at eight, but there could be as many as 10 entered by Thursday. A final decision on whether Storm Now will run in the Oaks still has to be made, while Fiftyshadeslighter also is a possible starter for trainer Gail Cox.