LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- While an amorphous field for Kentucky Derby 130 continues to search for its shape, the field for its sister race, the Kentucky Oaks, already has considerably more firmness to it than the Derby.

As of Monday, 11 fillies were considered probable for the Grade 1 Oaks, which is set for April 30, the day before the Derby. As usual, the 1 1/8-mile Oaks is expected to get the cream of the 3-year-old filly crop, which this year includes Halfbridled, Madcap Escapade, Silent Sighs, Victory U. S. A., and more.

With known jockey assignments, these are the candidates for the $500,000 Oaks:

A.P. Adventure, Mike Smith; Ashado, John Velazquez; Class Above, Corey Nakatani; Halfbridled, Alex Solis; Hollywood Story, Victor Espinoza; House of Fortune, Gary Stevens; Island Sand, Terry Thompson; Last Song, Robby Albarado; Madcap Escapade, Jerry Bailey; Silent Sighs, David Flores; and Victory U. S. A., Pat Day.

Both of trainer Bob Baffert's Oaks candidates were out for their penultimate prerace works in recent days at Churchill, with Victory U. S. A. going five furlongs in 1:01 on Sunday and Class Above going the same distance in a bullet 59 seconds the following morning.

Rock Hard Ten might enter Derby Trial
The Churchill meet opens Saturday with the Grade 3 Derby Trial, a $100,000-added race that figures to harbor implications toward the Derby only if trainer Jason Orman decides to run Rock Hard Ten in the one-mile race.

Orman said Sunday after Rock Hard Ten worked seven furlongs at Churchill that he probably will not run the colt in the Trial, but even if Rock Hard Ten ran and won, wheeling right back in the Derby would be doubtful.

With or without Rock Hard Ten, the Trial appears to be shaping up with a small to midsized field, with the following 3-year-olds probables: Bwana Charlie, Capac, Sir Shackleton, Tricky Taboo, and Yankee Won.

Bwana Charlie, winner of the Lafayette at Keeneland, and Capac, a Derby hopeful until losing his last start in late February, probably would vie for favoritism in the absence of Rock Hard Ten.

NYRA steward to fill in at Churchill
Officials with the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority revealed at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday in Lexington that Dr. Ted Hill, who serves as The Jockey Club steward for the New York Racing Association, has been hired to work as the interim chief steward at Churchill during Derby Week.

Hill will temporarily displace Mickey Sample, who in recent months has served as interim steward in Kentucky. Sample will return after the Derby.

Meanwhile, Bernie Hettel, who served as chief steward and executive director for the state's now-defunct regulatory agency, the Kentucky Racing Commission, before resigning under pressure in January, has been hired by Churchill as a consultant on policy relating to official racing matters.