Tag: CCA Oaks

Hoosier Philly Out Of CCA Oaks With Minor Foot Issue At Saratoga

Set to lineup as the 5-2 morning-line co-second choice this afternoon in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) has scratched with a minor foot issue, her trainer Tom Amoss reported Saturday morning via Twitter.

Amoss said, “Hoosier Philly was not herself this morning with a minor foot issue. Out of an abundance of caution, agreement with the state vets, & doing the right thing by her, she will be withdrawn from the CCAO. We look forward to getting back to the track in the future.”

The CCA Oaks field now has five 3-year-old fillies remaining with Brad Cox's Wet Paint (Blame) serving as the 2-1 morning-line favorite.

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D. Wayne Lukas Turns Back Time at Summer in Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – This has been a turn-back-the-clock, very D. Wayne Lukas-like, summer at Saratoga for the Hall of Fame trainer.

As he approaches his 87th birthday on Sept. 2, the racing legend has won a graded stake, finished second in two others, and made his presence felt at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale with the purchase of five yearlings for $2.725 million, led by of a son of Medaglia d'Oro for $1.35 million.

After skipping the past two Saratoga seasons due to a combination of the Covid-19 pandemic and a downturn in talent in his stable, Lukas returned in July with the star filly Secret Oath (Arrogate) and 15 others he felt had the quality to compete at the tough meet in upstate New York. While the Briland Farm homebred disappointed, finishing a distant second to Nest (Curlin) in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks on July 23, Lukas said he is satisfied with the way things worked out in the opening weeks of the season. Through Sunday's 24th day of the 40-day meet, Lukas' stable had a record of 3-4-2 from 19 starts– 47 percent in the money–and  earnings of $433,259.

“I think we've done all right, except for that one race,” he said after supervising the morning training from the back of his pony. “That one race bothers me and is nagging at me a little bit. I'm talking about the Coaching Club Oaks. That really bothered me. I know that our filly is so much better than that and we didn't get a chance to showcase her yet.”

Lukas said he was unhappy with the way jockey Luis Saez rode Secret Oath in the CCA Oaks and discussed that race after he worked her five furlongs in 1:01.55 on Aug. 9. Lukas described the breeze over the Oklahoma training track as “brilliant.”

“If you take that one out of it, I think everything else has been real fine,” Lukas said. “I really have enjoyed getting some of the 2-year-olds started and so forth. I think we can finish up here with a little flourish.”

BC Stable's 2-year-old Bourbon Bash (City of Light) sent Lukas to the winner's circle on Saturday to celebrate his eight-length victory in a maiden special weight race. He said the colt could make his next start in the GI Hopeful, a race Lukas has won a record eight times.

“He's been training really strong,” Lukas said. “He's a very immature looking horse, if you look at him closely, but he's starting to get his act together. Having the one out and the rest of the field didn't have any, he got away beautifully and Flavien (Prat) put him on cruise speed and away he went.”

Lukas said the Hopeful on the final day of the meet could be a good fit.

“We're right here,” he said. “You know me, when they're good I like to run them back. That was not a hard race on this horse. ”

On Aug. 9, the second night of the Saratoga Sale, Lukas purchased the Medaglia d'Oro colt for John Bellinger, a partner in the new BC Stable, that owns Bourbon Bash and Summer Promise (Uncle Mo), who was second in the GIII Schuylerville S. on opening day. It was the first time in a while that Lukas bought a seven-figure yearling.

“I don't know it just exactly. It had to be had to be mid-2000s–2005, 2006, 2007, somewhere in there,” he said. “We've been active in the sales, but we're buying $400,00-$500,000 ones which is not to be watered down. But this horse, we got into a bidding war with I think WinStar and some of those people. That was plenty for him, but he was something else. Good horseman all said the same thing. Actually, Kenny McPeek and I were talking and he said it was the No. 1 horse in the sale for him.”

Lukas said he called Bellinger a couple of hours before the session started and proposed buying the horse.

“I said, 'I think the best horse in the sale is selling tonight,'” Lukas said “I said, 'we can probably put together a group of three or four, or, John, you can just step up if you want to and we'll just try to buy him.'”

Lukas told him the colt would sell for “north of a million, for sure” and Bellinger agreed have Lukas jump into the bidding.

Lukas on his pony | Mike Kane

Naughty Gal's victory in the GIII Adirondack S. was Lukas's third graded stakes victory of 2022 and matched his combined total for the previous seven seasons. He expects to bring her back in the GI Spinaway S. on the closing weekend of the meet. With $2,614,795 in earnings through Sunday he is a cinch to have his best year since 2014 when he topped $4.7 million. His success has brought him new business.

“Surprisingly, yes. It really has,” he said. “I don't know if the exposure or the fact that people were sitting back and saying 'He's old. I wonder if he's still got it?' You know, that attitude. Then when you bang, bang, bang start to get on the front page again, they probably think 'Well, hell, he's out there and he's doing okay, we can give him another horse.' I don't think anybody questions that we can train. I think that's probably a given. But at my age they could sure question the work ethic and some of that and I think they feel comfortable.”

Among the additions to his stable in recent months were 14 horses owned by former client Willis Horton Racing LLC.

“Not only that, I've gotten a couple of new ones in the sale ring by buying yearlings, which is now a three-year look down the road,” he said. “So they must think I'm doing okay, physically.”

Lukas has made a few concessions to his age–using a cane when he is walking and steps to get up off the ground and onto his horse–but said he only feels old when he looks in the mirror. Earlier in the meet he had a mild case of Covid-19, which kept him away from the stable. It was a far different than his bout in 2020 when he said he thought he might die from the virus.

Lukas is confident in Secret Oath | Mike Kane

Secret Oath steps back into the spotlight this week and will face Nest again Saturday in the 142nd running of the Grade I Alabama S. The outcome could have a significant impact on the 3-year-old filly championship. Secret Oath beat Nest in the GI Kentucky Oaks then ran fourth in the GI Preakness S. Nest came out of her runner-up performance in the Oaks to finish second in the GI Belmont S. and ran away from Secret Oath in the CCA Oaks to win by 12 1/4 lengths.

Lukas said Saez told him after that Secret Oath “never felt better” under him. In the CCA Oaks, Secret Oath was closer to the pace and was wide in her first start in some eight weeks. At the top of the stretch, when it looked like the two stars would battle to the wire, Nest easily ran away from her rival.

With a race over the track and couple of breezes since the race, Lukas said he is confident that Secret Oath is capable of winning the 1 1/4-mile Alabama. She will be his 14th starter in the race. He was won it twice, most recently with Open Mind (Deputy Minister) in 1989

“I think it's just a trip,” Lukas said. “She actually is doing better right now than any time. I really feel that. I think she's filled out and getting stronger and everything. The work really put a punch on that line that she is better and Luis, when he worked her, said the same thing.”

“So we're down to a trip. We've got to get a trip, the trip we got in the Oaks back in Kentucky. If we get that I am not afraid of anybody.”

Lukas praised Nest, trained by is former assistant Todd Pletcher, and said the rivalry is something to look forward to.

“This thing's going to get down to where–this is not Alydar and Affirmed–but I think we could have a great fall with these two fillies,” he said.

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Background Check: CCA Oaks

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is the GI Coaching Club American Oaks, a significant 3-year old filly event on the Saratoga calendar.

The CCA Oaks is one of the revered traditions in the sophomore filly ranks. Like so many other races that have a century's worth of history, it has changed both distances and venues multiple times. The race began at nine furlongs in 1917 and was shortened to that distance again in 2010 after spending most of its tenure at 11 and 12 furlongs, in addition to 15 years at 10 furlongs. It's primarily been a fixture at Belmont Park, spent a few years at Aqueduct in the 1960s, and has now been at Saratoga since 2010. August Belmont, Jr.–breeder of Man o' War and a key builder of Belmont Park–was instrumental in molding the event after the Epsom Oaks. Many of the most celebrated fillies of the sport, including the legendary champions Ruffian and Twilight Tear, have won the CCA Oaks. The 106th edition of the storied race will be run Saturday.

Following are the most compelling CCA Oaks winners in reverse chronological order. They haven't been reviewed by their own pedigrees or race records, but simply by what impact they have delivered through their sons and daughters.

Music Note (2005, A.P. Indy–Note Musicale {GB}, by Sadler's Wells): This still-active mare in the Godolphin broodmare band produced last year's wildly impressive G1 Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide, as well as last year's GIII Penn Mile winner Gershwin. She delivered a full-sister to Mystic Guide Apr. 23.

My Flag (1993, Easy Goer–Personal Ensign, by Private Account): This Phipps family mare did her bit to continue the legacy of her Broodmare of the Year dam. She had four stakes performers, including champion Storm Flag Flying, and her daughters and granddaughters have already produced 14 additional black-type horses, including July 9 GII Suburban S. winner Dynamic One.

Sky Beauty (1990, Blushing Groom {Fr}–Maplejinsky, by Nijinsky II): She is another mare who hailed from a wonderful family. Although her only stakes-winning foal was MGSW and Argentinean leading sire Hurricane Cat, she's leaving her mark in North America as well through GISW and sire Violence.

Chris Evert (1971, Swoon's Son–Miss Carmie, by T. V. Lark): This lovely chestnut is probably best remembered today for her grandson, champion and eight-time Grade I winner Chief's Crown, but the long list of other horses descended from her five daughters include MGISWs Classic Crown, Sightseek, and Tates Creek; GISWs Dominican and Etoile Montante; and more recent stars like May 7 GI Derby City Distaff winner Obligatory, as well as MGSW/MGISP Bonny South.

Music Note is the most recent CCA Oaks winner to turn into a notable producer | Sarah Andrew

Lady Pitt (1963, Sword Dancer–Rock Drill, by Whirlaway): It may be a surprise to learn Lady Pitt was never a Broodmare of the Year since she's so prevalent in pedigrees today, but just two of her 10 foals were stakes winners: GISW The Liberal Member and MGSW/MGISP Blitey. The latter launched a Phipps family dynasty all on her own. Among her important descendants are champion Heavenly Prize, MGISWs Dancing Spree, Finder's Fee, Good Reward, and current sensation Flightline, as well as GISWs Furlong, Fantastic Find, Oh What a Windfall, Persistently, and Instilled Regard.

Bramalea (1959, Nashua–Rarelea, by Bull Lea): A number of stakes winners trace to this mare, but it's her son, Irish and English champion Roberto, who put her on the map as a factor in pedigrees and will keep her there. Roberto was a leading sire in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom, as well as a leading broodmare sire. His continued influence through one of his major sons, Lear Fan, was recently detailed in TDN. Roberto has played a major part through both his sons and daughters in pedigrees of several significant stallions, including Giant's Causeway and Kitten's Joy.

Levee (1953, Hill Prince–Bourtai, by Stimulus): Named Broodmare of the Year in 1970, her foals included champion Shuvee (who also won the CCA Oaks in 1969 and has a Grade II event named after her, which will be run Sunday at the Spa) and three other stakes winners. Among the high-class horses produced by her daughters and granddaughters are champion Sacahuista, MGISW Raging Fever, and G1 Irish St. Leger winners Meneval and Strategic Choice.

High Voltage (1952, Ambiorix {Fr}–Dynamo, by Menow): Her three stakes winners included champion Impressive and eventual notable sire Bold Commander. Among the best foals produced by her daughters was MGISW and sire Majestic Light.

Cherokee Rose (1951, Princequillo {GB}–The Squaw II {Fr}, by Sickle {GB}): The brilliant Horse of the Year Ack Ack traces directly to her, as does Venezuelan champion Sweet Candy (Ven) and GISWs Reluctant Guest and Just the Time.

Real Delight (1949, Bull Lea–Blue Delight, by Blue Larkspur): This Calumet mare produced three stakes winners, but tracing to her through her daughters are Broodmare of the Year Sweet Tooth and her foals, including champion Our Mims, MGISW and leading sire Alydar, and GISW Sugar and Spice; plus champion Christmas Past, MGISWs Codex and Grand Slam, and many more high-class runners.

How (1948, Princequillo {GB}–The Squaw II {Fr}, by Sickle {GB}): A full-sister to fellow CCA Oaks winner Cherokee Rose (above), How produced just three foals, but one of them was 1965 Broodmare of the Year Pocahontas, who in turn produced champion and important sire Tom Rolfe, MSW and sire Chieftain, and a number of other accomplished runners.

Scattered (1945, Whirlaway–Imperatrice, by Caruso): The dam of Alabama winner Here and There and Hempstead winner Disperse, this King Ranch mare may not remain a significant force in Thoroughbred pedigrees, but her great-grandson is the breed-shaping Quarter Horse racing stallion Dash for Cash. According to the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), he “defined Quarter Horse racing from the time he stepped onto the track” until his death. His ashes are buried at the foot of his life-sized bronze at the breed's Hall of Fame and Museum. Dash for Cash's trainer nearly 50 years ago was one D. Wayne Lukas.

MGISW and $3.2-million Fasig-Tipton sales mare Hard Not to Love traces to 1921 CCA Oaks winner Flambette | Benoit

Vagrancy (1939, Sir Gallahad III {Fr}–Valkyr, by Man o' War): This Belair Stud champion produced English champion Black Tarquin, as well as Test and Diana winner Vulcania. Her descendants include Broodmares of the Year Banja Luka and Natashka. Among the most notable stakes winners tracing to her are Horse of the Year Ferdinand, multiple European champion Distant Relative (Ire), and champion Questing, who also won the CCA Oaks in 2012.

Black Helen (1932, Black Toney–La Troienne {Fr}, by Teddy {Fr}): Although she didn't produce any stakes winners herself, Black Helen originated her own branch of the immortal La Troienne line through her daughters. Among her descendants were U.S. champions But Why Not, Princess Rooney, and Pleasant Tap; Canadian Horse of the Year Travelling Victor; and GI Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin.

Flambette (Fr) (1918, Durbar II {Fr}–La Flambee {Fr}, by Ajax {Fr}): A Belair Stud foundation mare, Flambette produced Gazelle winner Flambino and two other stakes winners. Her daughters produced champion and Triple Crown winner Omaha, Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Johnstown, and champions Gallorette and Jacola. Among other top horses descended immediately from her were champions Phalanx and Nadir, Kentucky Derby winner Decidedly, and G1 Two Thousand Guineas winner Mark of Esteem (Ire). More recent GISWs tracing to her include Hard Not to Love, Avenge, Union Strike, and Secret Spice, in addition to Canadian Horse of the Year Wonder Gadot.

Cleopatra (1917, Corcyra {GB}–Gallice {GB}, by Gallinule {GB}): Three of this mare's foals were black-type winners, including champion Pompey. Her descendants include Broodmare of the Year Gaga, who produced not only Horse of the Year and good sire Tom Fool, but also champion Aunt Jinny.

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‘A Great Crowd Pleaser’ as Hall of Famers Clash in CCA Oaks

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Though the GI Coaching Club American Oaks Saturday is short on depth, it is long on star power with Secret Oath (Arrogate) and D. Wayne Lukas taking on Nest (Curlin) and his long-ago former assistant Todd Pletcher.

The rematch of the most accomplished 3-year-old fillies in the land puts two Hall of Fame trainers, very friendly rivals indeed, back together on the big stage of Saratoga Race Course.

Seventy-nine days after Secret Oath beat favored Nest by two lengths in the GI Kentucky Oaks, the stars of the division meet again for the first of what could be two showdowns at Saratoga this summer. The historic GI Alabama S. will be run Aug. 20.

“If you're going to be the best, you better beat the best,” Lukas said. “I think it'll be a super-good race, a great crowd pleaser. I respect the other horses that are going, too.”

(Click below to watch Zoe Cadman's video with Wayne Lukas on Secret Oath.)

The nine-furlong CCA Oaks drew a field of five. From a low of four last year to twice having seven start, the race has averaged 5.5 starters since it was moved from Belmont Park to Saratoga in 2010. Also in the field are GIII Iowa Oaks winner Butterbean (Klimt), unbeaten Society (Gun Runner) and GIII Gazelle S. winner Nostalgic (Medaglia d'Oro).

Nest at Saratoga last week | Sarah Andrew

There is no question who the headliners are, though.

“They are two very good fillies and it seems like the race will go through them, but at Saratoga, strange things can happen,” Pletcher said with a knowing smile.

Just last year, Pletcher's unbeaten 1-5 favorite Malathaat (Curlin), finished second to 14-1 Maracuja (Honor Code) in the CCA Oaks.

Secret Oath carried the 86-year-old Lukas back to Saratoga after a two-year absence. He brought along 15 other runners, but getting the Briland Farm homebred into the Spa's championship-making races was the primary reason for his return. Five of the last six Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old fillies won either the CCA Oaks or the Alabama. The sixth, Covfefe (Into Mischief) in 2019, did not run in either race, but had a victory in the GI Test S. on her resume.

Following her win in the Kentucky Oaks, Lukas ran Secret Oath in the GI Preakness S. She finished fourth, 6 1/4 lengths behind Early Voting (Gun Runner), and Lukas said she would get a bit of a breather and then prepare for Saratoga. The Preakness was her fifth race of 2022, second in two weeks and her second against males; she was third in the GI Arkansas Derby.

Lukas said Secret Oath has flourished between Pimlico and Saratoga and exceeded his expectations.

“We haven't missed a day,” he said. “I thought that she put on weight and got a little bit stronger and filled out more than I thought she would. I didn't back up that much on her. I just didn't put those works real close together.”

Secret Oath on Thursday | Sarah Andrew

Like his old boss, Pletcher moved his standout filly up, who is co-owned by Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House, to the Triple Crown series after the Kentucky Oaks. Despite stumbling at the start, Nest turned in a solid second by three lengths to stablemate Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the GI Belmont Stakes.

“The one thing that we were monitoring closely after Belmont was how she came out of it,” Pletcher said. “And we were saying, 'OK, if we need a little more time we will go to the Alabama.' But she's done so well out of the race. I think she's gained weight since she ran in the Belmont. She's trained super. She's just doing really, really well. The concern when you run against colts is that it can potentially knock something out of them. In her case, she was so well-prepared and well-bred for the distance that it wasn't a hard race on her.”

While Nest had an easy three weeks, Pletcher said it was clear right away that she did not need another month before her next start.

Nest opened the year with easy victories in the Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs and the GI Ashland S. at Keeneland. She was the 2-1 favorite in the 14-horse Kentucky Oaks, while Secret Oath was next at 4-1. Lukas figured Nest was the horse to beat in the Oaks, a race he had not won since 1990 with Seaside Attraction (Seattle Slew).

“I'm not a very good handicapper, but I thought she was,” he said. “I talked to Todd and he told me he really liked her. That was good enough for me. I respect his opinion. He told me that he really liked her and he said, 'I think it will be the two of us.'”

Pletcher was spot-on with that analysis and figured that Secret Oath was the standout in that crowd. Before the Arkansas Derby she had romped over females in three straight races at Oaklawn Park.

“It was a loaded Oaks,” Pletcher said. “There were a lot of nice fillies with really strong records coming in. We felt that as impressive as she was, and she had the race against colts and kind of had a rough trip that day, that she certainly seemed liked the one to beat.”

Lukas said he did not tell jockey Luis Saez just to focus on Nest.

“We thought we had to beat them all,” Lukas said. “Luis thought that when she was in front of us he could go get her whenever he wanted to, and pretty much did when he was ready to. I told him not to go too early. I thought we had to beat them all in the Oaks. That's the prestigious one. That's the one you want.”

Saez was never far from Nest in the early stages of the Oaks, but he was a few paths off the rail, while Nest and Irad Ortiz, Jr. were committed to the inside. Secret Oath surged to the front at the top of the stretch and took command.

Pletcher and Lukas in 2006 | Horsephotos

“She's a super-impressive filly,” Pletcher said. “We love Nest and saw how strong Secret Oath could be in the Oaks. I think we would have made it a little closer if we got a little bit of a different trip. We kind of got bottled up for a moment in the far turn. And that's when Secret Oath kind of blew the race open. We're looking forward to the rematch and see what happens.”

Pletcher is the career leader in wins in the CCA Oaks with seven. Lukas has a pair of victories, the most recent in 1989 with champion Open Mind (Deputy Minister) a few weeks after Pletcher joined his staff following his graduation from the University of Arizona. Pletcher worked for Lukas until late in 1995 when he opened his own stable.

As he discussed the race, Pletcher said aside from the meeting of two top fillies, the storyline should be about how well Lukas is doing this year.

“He's an amazing man,” Pletcher said. “I've always said I think he's the greatest horse trainer of all time. Not only when you think about what he's done in the Thoroughbred business, but before that he dominated Quarter Horses. A lot of people have trained horses and won lot of races, but you can really say he's the guy that changed the training game.

“For him to still achieve at the highest level after all these years, it's remarkable that he continues to have the passion for it and the desire to come out here every morning and do it. It's great to see him still competing at the highest level.”

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