Freshened Southlawn ready to start over in CCA Oaks

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Based on her two victories to begin the year, including an eye-catching 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, Southlawn was sent off the second choice in the 14-horse Kentucky Oaks field in May.

After checking off heels entering the first turn and then racing five wide throughout, Southlawn was basically done by the top of the stretch, finishing 10th, 10 1/4 lengths behind Pretty Mischievous and Gambling Girl, who were a neck apart at the wire.

After a freshening, Southlawn returns to the races in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. Southlawn was one of six 3-year-old fillies entered in the 1 1/8-mile race that serves as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Alabama on Aug. 19.

Trainer Norm Casse said the break between the Kentucky Oaks and CCA Oaks was by design.

“We just felt like she had a tough trip in the Oaks, was never really in any type of position to win,” Casse said. “The plan was always to bring her to Saratoga fresh, so we gave her a bit of a freshening with the CCA Oaks as the target race back. She has worked really well and fires fresh so we expect her to run well.”

Though Reylu Gutierrez has ridden Southlawn in all three of her starts this year, Florent Geroux will ride Southlawn on Saturday.

“We just decided we wanted somebody who is based in Saratoga and who rides here regularly,” Casse said. “He worked her on Saturday and seemed to get along with her very well.”

Southlawn worked a halfmile in 48.80 seconds last Saturday over the Saratoga main track.

The CCA Oaks was expected to include Kentucky Oaks runner-up Gambling Girl, beaten Oaks favorite Wet Paint, Hoosier Philly, Sacred Wish, and She’s Lookin Lucky.

Our Flash Drive not done yet

When Mark Casse ran Our Flash Drive in the Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes last November at Woodbine, it was projected to be her last start.

When Our Flash Drive galloped to a 5 3/4-length victory, earning a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure, Casse asked owner Charlotte Weber if he could run her one more year and Weber agreed.

Our Flash Drive, now 5, has rewarded that decision with two graded stakes victories this year and aims for a third in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Caress Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga.

Our Flash Drive won the De La Rose Stakes going a mile here last summer, but seems to have found a niche as a sprinter.

“After she was so impressive, I said to Mrs. Weber maybe I was wrong with this filly, maybe she needs to be a sprinter,” Casse said.

Casse’s one concern about the Caress is the 5 1/2 furlongs “may be a tad short for her,” he said.

Casse said though Our Flash Drive won the Grade 2 Royal North last out from an up-close position, jockey Patrick Husbands told Casse she prefers to lay farther off the pace.

Dylan Davis will ride Our Flash Drive on Saturday. The Caress field was expected to include Bubble Rock, Poppy Flower, Roses for Debra, and Wakanaka. Bank On Anna was to be entered as main-track only.

Stone Age now with Brown

Stone Age, who finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf for trainer Aidan O’Brien, is now with Chad Brown and had his first local work Wednesday morning as he gears up for a fall campaign.

Stone Age went a half-mile in 50.42 seconds Wednesday morning over the Oklahoma turf course. Brown is hopeful it’s the first step toward a start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct on Sept. 30.

Stone Age had a busy 12-month period from March 2022 to Feb. 2023, making 10 starts at nine different tracks in five countries. In three U.S. starts last year, Stone Age finished third in the Belmont Derby, fifth in the Saratoga Derby, and second to Rebel’s Romance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

He ended his 2022 campaign with a fifth-place finish as the favorite in the Hong Kong Vase before finishing last of 12 in the Group 1 Amir Trophy in Qatar in February.

He was shipped to Brown at Payson Park shortly thereafter, but Brown said the horse needed a break.

“He exited that race with a minor injury, we gave him some time to heal it, and now the horse is moving so much better now having a little break,” Brown said. “I was pretty impressed with his first work. I appreciate the owners letting me rest the horse.”

Stone Age is owned by Peter Brant and the Coolmore connections of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier.

BARBARA D. LIVINGSTON Southlawn had a rough trip when 10th in the Kentucky Oaks. She begins the second half of her season in the CCA Oaks.