Kentucky Oaks Contender Good Cheer Fires Five-Furlong Bullet at Churchill Thursday

[Wandering Eyes]

Godolphin's Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro), the likely favorite for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, turned in her most serious work to date Thursday morning at Churchill Downs with a five-furlong breeze in a sharp :59.40, the fastest of 10 at the distance.

The undefeated filly hit the track at 7:15 a.m. EST wearing her usual set of blinkers and partnered with trainer Brad Cox's longtime exercise rider Edvin Vargas. She began her workout at the 4 1/2-furlong pole and broke off about two lengths behind stablemate and maiden Saucier (City of Light). After an opening quarter-mile in :23.60, Good Cheer ranged up to the outside of her workmate and the duo completed the work together. Good Cheer began to edge clear on the gallop out and completed six furlongs in 1:13.

“The work was executed very well,” Cox said. “She was meant to sit a couple lengths off her workmate and ranged up alongside at the quarter pole. She eased away a little bit on the gallop out. Overall, I thought it was a really good move. She's doing really well. I was really happy with her and Edvin was very happy with her. She's just a solid filly.”

Good Cheer is perfect in six starts, with three consecutive Grade II victories in the Golden Rod, Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra and Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks.

“When horses are undefeated, you can feel a little bit of added pressure,” Cox said. “That's all part of it. It's a good position to be in. Hopefully, we can pull through. She's a straightforward horse. She's perfect in six starts and has won all her races by daylight. We're just trying to keep her happy and healthy.”

Cox won the Kentucky Oaks in 2018 with Monomoy Girl and again in 2020 with Shedaresthedevil.

“It's really hard to compare these three horses,” Cox said. “Obviously, if Good Cheer can win this race, she puts her name right there with those fillies. I think we have some unfinished business with her. We need to win some Grade Is and the Oaks will be the biggest challenge she's had to date–maybe the biggest she'll ever have, given the caliber of this race.”

Cox is scheduled to travel to Payson Park on Thursday afternoon to watch GI Florida Derby winner Tappan Street (Into Mischief) work Friday. The colt is expected to van to Churchill Downs on Saturday, according to Cox.

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