Coffeepot Stables' Farrell (Malibu Moon) tuned up for the Apr. 1 GII Fair Grounds Oaks with a five-furlong move in a bullet 1:00 flat at Fair Grounds Saturday. “Everything went beautifully,” trainer Wayne Catalano said. “The track was a little busy when she got out there, so she got a little worked up, but ultimately she worked really good. We wanted a harder, longer work than last week–a medium work. She'll likely do an easy half next week. She's fit and ready to go and we are just maintaining.”
Farrell takes a three-race win streak into the Fair Grounds Oaks. She captured the GII Golden Rod S. last November at Churchill Downs and won the Jan. 21 Silverbulletday S. and Feb. 25 GII Rachel Alexandra S. over the Fair Grounds oval.
Brad Grady's Girvin (Tale of Ekati) was also on the work tab Saturday in New Orleans, going five furlongs in company with stakes-winning sophomore Cool Arrow (Into Mischief) in 1:01 flat in preparation for the Apr. 1 GII Louisiana Derby. Trainer Joe Sharp was aboard Cool Arrow for the work, while wife Rosie Napravnik was aboard Girvin. The pair went their first half in :24.60, three furlongs in :36.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.20 while remaining even.
“He went great,” Sharp said. “I was on Cool Arrow again and Rosie was on Girvin and it was even better than we expected. Unlike when they've worked together before, we had Girvin on the outside this time. At one point, Rosie squeezed on him and he quickly opened up a little on Cool Arrow. He galloped out great, too.”
Girvin is coming off a two-length win in the Feb. 26 GII Risen Star S. Cool Arrow won the Springboard Mile at Remington Park last December and was 10th in the Risen Star.
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