Dubai -- Godolphin's unbeaten Danuta romped to an easy five-length victory in Thursday's UAE Oaks at Nad Al Sheba racecourse, but a representative of the Dubai-based racing giant is not ready to commit the budding star to a trip to Churchill Downs for the 129th running of the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (Grade I).

The daughter of 1989 Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence led throughout and won under a firm hold from jockey Frankie Dettori. Desert Glow was second and Godolphin's Ashraaf was third as Danuta completed the Kentucky Oaks distance of a mile and an eighth in 1:49.69 over a "fast" track.

"We are really pleased that Danuta put up such a nice performance," said Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager. "No decision about whether she goes to the Kentucky Oaks has been made yet." Godolphin has won all three runnings of the UAE Oaks. Imperial Gesture won the race last year and Laoub took its inaugural running in 2001.

Central -- Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's Lady Tak, the unbeaten winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII), is the narrow 2-1 morning line favorite in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies entered in Saturday's $500,000 Ashland Stakes (GI), the highlight of the opening weekend at Keeneland.

The daughter of Mutakddim, a $75,000 purchase at Keeneland as a 2-year-old in training in 2002, will be looking for her sixth consecutive victory in the 66th running of the Ashland. Corey Lanerie will ride for trainer Steve Asmussen as regular jockey Donnie Meche serves a suspension.

Assistant trainer Scott Blasi told Daily Racing Form that Lady Tak has yet to be extended in her young career.

"Talent-wise, this is a very exciting filly," said Blasi. "I think we're all wondering what it's going to be like when she's really put to the test."

The Ashland appears to be the strongest collection of 3-year-old fillies so far on the road to the May 2 Kentucky Oaks. The 1 1/16-mile race has also attracted J. Paul Reddam's Elloluv, winner of the Hollywood Futurity (GI) and runner-up in the Santa Anita Oaks (GI); Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Yell, an impressive winner of the Davona Dale (GII) at Gulfstream Park; and Gilbert Campbell's Ivanavinalot, winner of the Bonnie Miss (GII) at Gulfstream. Others in the field include Holiday Lady, Allspice and Unbridled Femme.

West -- Trainer Bob Baffert said this week that Kentucky Oaks contender Santa Catarina will not race again before the 129th Kentucky Oaks.

Robert and Beverly Lewis' daughter of Unbridled scored an optional claiming allowance victory at Santa Anita in her only race of the year and her lone start since a third-place finish behind 2-year-old filly champion Storm Flag Flying in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Arlington Park.

"She runs well fresh," Baffert told Thoroughbred Times, "but it's more that I don't want to give her a hard, taxing race before the Oaks. It's a long summer and we need her fresh for the great fillies races up in New York."

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