Secret Oath, a finalist for an Eclipse Award as the nation's champion 3-year-old filly of 2022, returned to the work tab Sunday morning at Oaklawn, recording a half-mile bullet (:47.60) under Mickaelle Michel.
Secret Oath's was the fastest of 87 timed moves at the distance. She breezed over a fast surface moments after the track opened at 6:45 a.m. (CT). Clockers caught the chestnut daughter of deceased champion Arrogate galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.40.
“Beautiful,” Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said, describing the work. “I just want to freeze it. When she breezes, she always fools the riders. She's got such a smooth motion. Mickaelle is outstanding. That's why I had her on her.”
Secret Oath was freshened for a 2023 campaign following a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at 1 1/8 miles Nov. 5 at Keeneland. Lukas said Secret Oath is scheduled to make her 4-year-old debut in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles March 11 at Oaklawn.
Lukas said Secret Oath has flourished physically since the Breeders' Cup Distaff, which concluded a grueling nine-race 2022 campaign. She demolished her rivals in Oaklawn's Martha Washington Stakes and Honeybee Stakes (G3) last winter before finishing third against males in ithe Arkansas Derby (G1) in April. Secret Oath then captured the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in May at Churchill Downs. Secret Oath tested males again, finishing fourth in the Preakness (g1), the second jewel in the Triple Crown.
Secret Oath made four more starts, finishing second twice to likely 3-year-old filly champion Nest in Grade 1 events last summer at Saratoga. The Breeders' Cup Distaff was Secret Oath's first start against older horses.
“She's gotten wider,” Lukas said. “She's put on at least 50 pounds. She really looks good. I'm so pleased with her development. Her mother was the same way. Didn't do anything before, then widened out and got to be a racehorse. I couldn't be more happy where she's at.”
Lukas trains Secret Oath for her Kentucky breeders, Robert and Stacy Mitchell (Briland Farm). Lukas and Briland also campaigned Secret Oath's dam, multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Absinthe Minded, by Quiet American.
Lukas said the Azeri is Secret Oath's scheduled prep for the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares April 15 at Oaklawn. The Apple Blossom is also 1 1/16 miles.
Michel, through Saturday, had ridden two winners for Lukas at the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting. The French jockey began breezing Secret Oath leading up to the Breeders' Cup Distaff.
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