Kentucky Oaks prep first of 3
HOT SPRINGS — Oaklawn Park’s path to the Kentucky Oaks starts here.
A field of six 3-yearold fillies entered in the $125,000 1-mile Martha Washington Stakes will chase 17 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks today. The Martha Washington has a scheduled post of 4:38 p.m.
It is the first of three races at Oaklawn in which fillies are offered an opportunity to earn points needed to qualify for the Grade I Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on May 4, the day before the Kentucky Derby. Next up for Oaks points at Oaklawn are the Grade III 1 1/16thmile Honeybee Stakes on March 10, with 85 points available, and the Grade III Fantasy Stakes on April 13, with 170 points available.
Donnie K. Von Hemel-trainee Cosmic Burst, by Violence, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite off her win in the 1-mile Trapeze Stakes at Remington Park in Oklahoma City on Dec. 17. Jockey Richard Eramia rode Cosmic Burst’s 5¼-length victory over 10 other 2-yearolds in the Trapeze and is listed as her rider in the Martha Washington.
“That race came up, and she looked like she had a legitimate chance in the race,
and she went out there and ran like a racehorse,” Von Hemel said.
Von Hemel said Cosmic Burst’s recent workload has her adequately prepared for the Martha Washington.
“She’s trained well,” he said. “The weather has been a bit of an obstacle for everybody that’s been at Oaklawn anyway. Trying to keep consistent training going has been a bit of a challenge, but that’s not unexpected when you’re at Oaklawn in January, but I think we’ve done enough and should be ready to give a good account.”
Tyfosha, trained by Doug O’Neill and with Alex Canchari as the expected rider, is the 2-1 second choice. By Flatter, Tyfosha started her 3-year-old campaign with a 4¼-length 6-furlong maiden victory at Oaklawn on Jan. 21. She has yet to run a route race.
Also entered are Secret Passion, with Edwin Maldonado picked to ride; Sassy Sienna, with Gary Stevens; Red
Ruby, with Robby Albarado; and Grats Road, with Rayan Gazader.
Sassy Sienna, the morning-line third-choice at 5-2, finished fifth — 13 lengths behind Cosmic Burst — in the Trapeze, but trainer Brad Cox said it was a result that, for him, defied explanation.
“I wish we knew,” Cox said. “Obviously, she didn’t show up like we expected. She kind of had us scratching our heads, but she trained well after the race, and she’s come back and she’s doing great.”
Sassy Sienna followed with a 1-mile, 9½-length, optional-claiming victory over nine others at Oaklawn on Jan. 15.
“In that race, she ran the way she trains,” Cox said. “Obviously, she didn’t do that in Oklahoma. We don’t know why. We hope we don’t cross that bridge again.”
None of the Martha Washington entries raced in Oaklawn’s 6-furlong Dixie Belle Stakes on Jan. 20, though trainer Mac Robertson had briefly considered entering Amy’s Challenge, the Dixie Belle winner after a homestretch-long duel with runner-up Mia Mischief.
“Three weeks past was a little too quick,” Robertson said.
He said the Honeybee is Amy’s Challenge’s next target.
“Obviously, I want her to peak in April and May,” Robertson said. “Asking for her best in January and then asking for her best in February and March and April seems like a lot to me. Obviously, the Martha Washington was under consideration, but I want her to run in the Honeybee, and if she runs well there, then she’ll go in the Fantasy. Three races are plenty for her.”