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Lady Tak Sharp For Fair Grounds Oaks
By: John Asher

Kentucky Oaks 129 Headlines:

  • Lady Tak, Composure Sharp In Works
  • Elegant Designer Wins Aqueduct's Busher
  • McPeek Wins And Loses In Gaily Gaily

    Central -- Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's unbeaten Lady Tak continued to train sharply in preparation for Saturday's $500,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (Grade II), a major prep for Kentucky Oaks 129 (GI).

    Jockey Donnie Meche told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that a six-furlong breeze last Monday was designed to expose the Steve Asmussen trainee to things she may experience in the 1 1/16-mile Fair Grounds Oaks.

    "Awesome," Meche said. "She worked behind horses. I just sat behind the other two horses. We let her get dirt in her face...She came back like she never even worked."

    Lady Tak completed the breeze in 1:13.60 and left her rider brimming with confidence about Saturday's race.

    "I know one thing -- my horse doesn't know how to get beat," Meche said. "She loves the winner's circle."

  • Du-Zee Stable's Unbridled Femme took the lead on the far turn and cruised to a 13 1/2-length romp over Slammin Lil in Saturday's $50,000 Valdale Stakes at Turfway Park. The daughter of 1990 Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Unbridled, trained by David Pate and ridden by Brian Peck, will run next in the $150,000 Bourbonette on March 22 at the Northern Kentucky track.

    West -- Trainer Bob Baffert pronounced Robert and Beverly Lewis' Composure "ready to roll" in the $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (GI) on March 8 after a six furlong work at Santa Anita.

    The winner of the Las Virgenes (GI) covered the distance on Saturday in 1:11.60. A field of six that also includes Elloluv, who upset Composure in the Hollywood Starlet (GI), is expected for Saturday's race at the Southern California track.

    East -- Michael Sherman's favored Elegant Designer, an invader from Laurel Park in Maryland, rallied in the stretch to catch Virgin Voyage and then held off a late charge from the latter's stablemate, Xtra Heart, to win Saturday's $81,450 Busher Stakes on Saturday at New York's Aqueduct.

    The Tony Dutrow-trained Elegant Designer survived the three-horse photo finish to win by a head over Xtra Heart.

    The 1 1/16-mile race was the first effort at a two-turn distance for Elegant Designer and she completed the distance under jockey Mario Pino in 1:45.20. The Suave Prospect filly has won four consecutive races and has six wins in eight starts.

    "She had to fight hard and she was very game," Dutrow said. "For her to run like that off a few months layoff in itself was impressive, but considering it was her first time around two turns, it was even more impressive."

    Southeast -- Friday's win by Devil At The Wire in the $65,000 Gaily Gaily on the Gulfstream Park turf was a story of mixed emotions for trainer Ken McPeek, who saw the daughter of Devil His Due suffer a career-ending injury as she galloped out after her neck victory over favored Formal Miss.

    Devil At The Wire was pulled up on the backstretch by jockey Mark Guidry and left the track in an ambulance.

    "She was sound as could be but she didn't change leads when pulling up after the race and she suffered a fractured sesamoid bone in her right front leg," said McPeek. "We were able to save her and now she's being retired to be bred."

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