Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 11:15 am |
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Updated: April 16, 2026 at 11:32 am
Prom Queen | Ryan Thompson
Gary and Mary West’s GII Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Prom Queen (Quality Road) continued her preparation for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks with a five-furlong move in 1:01.40 Thursday morning at Churchill Downs, according to a press release from the track on Thursday morning.
Prom Queen, a ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’, breezed at 9:15 a.m. ET with Edvin Vargas in the irons. She completed an opening quarter-mile in :25.80 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.80, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.
“It was a solid move from her,” trainer Brad Cox said. “She did things very easily on her own and traveled well over the surface.”
The homebred is out of the Tapit mare Miss Bling Bling. Prom Queen scored a convincing 2 3/4-length victory in the Mar. 28 Gulfstream Park Oaks.
Friday’s work tab at Churchill Downs is expected to include GI Kentucky Derby contenders Commandment (Into Mischief), Fulleffort (Liam’s Map) and ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’, Further Ado (Gun Runner).
Also scheduled to work is Stark Contrast (Caravaggio), who appears more likely to run in the GI American Turf Stakes instead of the Derby.
Saturday’s work tab is scheduled to include GII Wood Memorial winner Albus (Yaupon) and runner-up Right to Party (Constitution).
The Kentucky Derby Morning Works Show will return Friday with 14 consecutive days of live coverage. Airing daily from 6:45-7:45 a.m. (all times Eastern), the one-hour program will be streamed live on the Kentucky Derby Facebook Page, YouTube and X accounts.
At Keeneland, GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes winner Percy’s Bar worked a half-mile in :47 over a fast track. The time was the fastest for 30 works at the distance on Thursday morning.
“It was a good work and she did it well within herself,” trainer Ben Colebrook said. “I am not worried about her bouncing off the layoff. We thought the best route [to get to the Kentucky Oaks] was to get the one prep and move on from there.”
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