Cathryn Sophia confirmed for Oaks; Leparoux gets 400th Keeneland win

Sunday’s figures: On-track attendance, 19,876; on-track betting, $957,173.10; total betting including simulcast, $7,815,418.94.

This day last year: On-track attendance, 11,605; on-track betting, $783,403; total betting including simulcast, $7,090,648.

Coming up: Live racing resumes Wednesday with an eight-race card.

Final furlong

▪ Jockey Julien Leparoux earned his 400th win at Keeneland when he booted home Gio’s Calling for trainer Brian Lynch in Sunday’s ninth and final race.

Leparoux, who has won 10 Keeneland meet titles, ranks fifth all-time in wins at the track behind Pat Day, Don Brumfield, Robby Albarado and Shane Sellers.

▪ Trainer Doug O’Neill used his layover in Lexington on Sunday morning to pop across the street and check in on his unbeaten champion Nyquist.

O’Neill, who was flying back to California after attending the Charles Town Classic in West Virginia on Saturday night, declared that all was well with the current Kentucky Derby favorite one day after he worked 5 furlongs in company.

“Nyquist looks great this morning and (Oaks contender) Land Over Sea looks super,” O’Neill said. “Ideally, they will work next Saturday but it could be Friday, Saturday or Sunday depending on the weather. Whatever day they work and come out of it good, they would ship to Churchill Downs the next day.”

▪ Trainer John Servis confirmed via text message that multiple graded stakes winner Cathryn Sophia, third in the Grade I Ashland Stakes on April 9, “has the green light” to start in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6.

Servis had originally considered starting the daughter of Street Boss in the Grade III Eight Belles Stakes going 7 furlongs on May 6, but he put the Oaks back on the table when it was announced that undefeated champion Songbird would not contest the race due to a low-grade fever.

▪ The Chad Brown-trained duo of My Man Sam and Shagaf recorded their first serious preparations for the Kentucky Derby with each working 4 furlongs at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning.

My Man Sam, second in Grade I Blue Grass Stakes, breezed a half-mile in :50.60 while working outside of stablemate Majestic Affair shortly after the track opened.

Graded stakes winner Shagaf went a half mile in :48.40, producing fractions of :12.80, :24.60, :36.60 and a 5-furlong gallop out of 1:01.20 and 6 furlongs in 1:14.60.

This story was originally published April 24, 2016 at 7:09 PM with the headline "Cathryn Sophia confirmed for Oaks; Leparoux gets 400th Keeneland win."