Ria Antonia Tunes Up

RIA ANTONIA TUNES UP
    Ria Antonia (Rockport Harbor), who won last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies via disqualification, tuned up for Friday’s GI Kentucky Oaks with a half-mile drill at Churchill Downs Monday in :47.40. The bay filly took to the track immediately after training resumed after a violent thunderstorm. With Martin Garcia in the irons, Ria Antonia worked through fractions of :11.60 and :23.20. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:00 and was timed in 1:13.60 for six furlongs. 
“She worked really well,” reported trainer Bob Baffert. “I loved her work. Martin has been working her and he just loved the way she went over the track. She’s going into the race stronger than she ever has. I was very happy with the move.” 
Owned by Christopher Dunn and Loooche Racing Stable, Ria Antonia began the year with a fourth-place effort in the Feb. 22 GIII Rachel Alexandra S. for trainer 
Jeremiah Englehart. She was transferred to Baffert for a runner-up effort in the Apr. 5 GI Santa Anita Oaks. 

FIFTYSHADESOFGOLD TO SKIP OAKS 
    The Estate of Clarence Scharbauer’s Fiftyshadesofgold (My Golden Song), a distant second behind Untapable (Tapit) in the Mar. 29 GII Fair Grounds Oaks, will bypass a rematch with that foe in Friday’s GI Kentucky Oaks in favor of a start in the 
GIII Eight Belles S. the same day. “The ownership is a little bit on the conservative side and they felt the Eight Belles gave them the best shot to win,” commented trainer Bret Calhoun. 

NAKATANI ON EMPRESS OF MIDWAY 
    Trainer Doug O’Neill confirmed Monday that Corey Nakatani will ride Empress of Midway (Empire Maker) in Friday’s GI Kentucky Oaks. Ridden by Mike Smith in her first two starts, including a maiden win at Santa Anita Feb. 28, the bay filly was ridden by John Velazquez when second in the Mar. 23 Sunland Park Oaks.