coaching club american oaks | Horse Racing Free Tips

Cody’s Wish Breezes for Whitney

Cody's Wish (Curlin) worked five furlongs in 1:00 (1/15) Saturday over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for the $1-million GI Whitney Aug. 5.

The Godolphin homebred is currently on a six-race winning streak topped by a powerful 3 1/4-length score last out in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. June 10 at Belmont Park.

“He was very good. He went five eighths and went well and appeared to be well within himself,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “We're uncertain about the nine furlongs (in the Whitney), but we're going to remain optimistic. Until they do it, you never know. Maybe now that he's more mature than he was early on, maybe he'll do it. He's more seasoned.”

His stablemate and last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Elite Power (Curlin) worked a bullet five eighths in :59.60 (1/13) Friday over the Oklahoma training track and could make two starts at the Spa for Mott this summer in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. July 29 and the GI Forego S. Aug. 26.

“His work was very good,” Mott said. “He'll go to the Vanderbilt and then possibly the Forego.”

Cox Barn Loaded for the Spa…

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel (Mizzen Mast) worked a half-mile in :48.88 (6/20) Saturday over the Oklahoma training turf as she prepares to take on the boys in the GIII Troy S., a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older horses Aug. 5.

“Really good. She's an outstanding workhorse,” trainer Brad Cox said of the last out GI Jaipur S. winner. “It's her first move up here on the turf. She breezed last weekend at Churchill. It's just a maintenance move and she's doing great. She's pointing to the Troy right now.”

He continued, “Physically, she looks amazing. She's happy. I don't know if we need her to get any better, she just has to continue to be as good as she's been the first half of the year. If we can duplicate that in the second half, we'll be in great shape.”

The stretch-running Wet Paint (Blame), fourth as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Oaks and second in the Monomoy Girl S. June 17, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 (6/15) Saturday over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for next Saturday's GI Coaching Club American Oaks.

“Really good move this morning. She went five-eighths from the half in 1:00.60 and out in 1:13.60,” Cox said. “She's not the flashiest workhorse, but this morning she was on it and she was wanting to do it. I loved what I saw from her. She's set up for a big run next week.”

West Will Power (Bernardini), winner of the GI Stephen Foster S. July 1, worked a half mile in :51.40 (88/95) at Churchill Downs Saturday in preparation for a possible start in the GI Whitney Aug. 5.

“It was just a really easy half mile and if all is well he make the trip up this week,” Cox said.

Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) and Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg), who dead-heated for fourth last out in the GI Belmont S., worked five eighths in company in 1:00.90 (5/13) Friday over the Oklahoma training track.

“Very good move. I'm very happy with them,” Cox said.

Both horses will point to the nine-furlong GII Jim Dandy S. July 29 with an eye towards the 10-furlong GI Travers S. Aug. 26.

“I don't know if any of these horses want to run a mile and a half, but they ran big races in the Belmont and got really good figures,” Cox said. “They've had time to recover and had some really good moves down at Churchill.”

Tapit Trice Haskell Bound…

'TDN Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit), a close third in the GI Belmont S., breezed a half mile in :49.15 (27/84) over the Belmont Park main track on Saturday in preparation for the GI Haskell Invitational on July 22 at Monmouth Park.

“He just did what he normally does which is work well and gallop out strongly,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He was moving great. It was everything we wanted to see.”

Luis Saez will ride Tapit Trice in the Haskell.

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The Week in Review: Nest Belongs in the Travers

For Nest (Curlin), the easy route to the Breeders' Cup includes a stop in the GI Alabama Aug 20. It's a prestigious race, has a $600,000 purse and Nest would be an odds-on favorite against many of the same horses she thrashed Saturday in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. But what fun is that?

Owners Mike Repole, Michael House and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trainer Todd Pletcher have already shown that they will think outside the box. They ran their filly in the GI Belmont S., where she finished second despite stumbling and getting bumped at the start. It was a huge effort and proved that she can handle herself if thrown into the mix with the sport's best 3-year-old males.

Yet, there had to be a sense of disappointment that she ran so well but lost. Now, there is a chance to make amends, one that could put Nest into the conversation when it comes to the Horse-of-the-Year picture. There's a race out there where she could make history and it's not the Alabama. Nest should go in the GI Travers S.

It's a race the connections will consider.

“We're leaning towards [the Alabama],” Pletcher said Sunday. “I had a brief conversation [with her owners] though and we did not completely rule out the Travers. She showed she can hold her own against [males] and we know the mile and a quarter suits her. So, we'll keep it in the back of our mind. I'd say all things being equal, we'll probably see her in the Alabama.”

The Travers is the right call. For one, she can win it. She got a 104 Beyer for winning the CCA Oaks, two points better than the number Cyberknife (Gun Runner) received for winning the GI Haskell S. on the same day. Among those eyeing the Travers, only her stablemate, Charge It (Tapit), who got a 111 Beyer when winning he GIII Dwyer S., is notably faster. Nest is in the same range as all the other top colts.

And, yes, the Travers will be a very tough race, but it got a lot easier Saturday when Jack Christopher (Munnings) finished a tiring third in the Haskell, all but cementing his status as a horse that wants no part of 1 1/4 miles. The race has also lost Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), who beat Nest in the Belmont but has since been sidelined.

This has become a sport where there are few chance-takers and the sportsmen have given way to the businessmen. But there remain some out there who get it, that it doesn't always have to be about the money and that you can't put a price on challenging yourself and doing something special. Get Nest to the Travers winner's circle and you have done something that will stamp her as one of the greatest fillies of her generation. In modern times, no filly has won the Travers. Seven fillies have won the race but none since Lady Rotha in 1915. That's 107 years.

It will take a special filly to erase 107 years of history and owners and a trainer who understand the historical significance of pulling off such a feat. In Nest, Repole, Eclipse, House and Pletcher we may just have that combination. For them, winning the Alabama would fall under the category of “just another race.” The Travers would be so much more.

A Missed Opportunity

Fixed odds wagering may some day become a big part of how people bet on the sport, but the slow progress the concept is making is frustrating. It remains available only on Monmouth Park races and only to on-track customers at Monmouth.

Just imagine, though, for a minute, what might have happened last week had fixed odds bets have been available and had they been available to sports betting customers through their on-line wagering accounts.

The Wednesday following the MLB All-Star game is the single slowest day of the year for sports betting. When it comes to the four major sports, nothing is available. It's normally the only day of the year when that is the case.

There's a huge void and maybe some day racing can fill it and fill it in a way that can expose the sport to hundreds of thousands of sports bettors craving action on a Wednesday. But that can't happen until much more progress is made, starting with the advent of fixed odds and getting the product available on sports betting websites. This is something everyone needs to get behind.

Juan Vazquez and Fake News

The New York Gaming Commission came out last week with a press release crowing about how Juan Vazquez has beeen banned from running horses in the state through Jan. 26, 2025. That's sort of like announcing that today is Sunday.

The New York regulators did nothing other than honor the reciprocity agreement that exists among all horse racing states and has been around forever. Vazquez was suspended by the Pennsylvania Racing Commission, so New York, and everyone else, had no choice but to honor the suspension. There was absolutely no need to tell everyone that New York was honoring the suspension and by doing so it looks like the New York commission was looking to take credit for something it had absolutely nothing to do with.

Because the Pennsylvania suspension did not take effect until a few days after it was announced, Vazquez was able to run six horses in Saratoga after it was announced that he had received the lengthy suspension after the Pennsylvania regulators alleged that a horse he shipped from Belmont to Parx arrived in such bad shape with a severe case of laminitis that it had to be put down. The Pennsylvania stewards said his actions were “grossly negligent, cruel and abusive,” yet there he was running in Saratoga. That's a terrible optic.

If the New York Gaming Commission really wanted to do something about Vazquez, it should have taken steps to keep him from running in Saratoga.

On Jack Christopher

So, Jack Christopher is not a two-turn, mile-and-an-eighth horse. At least he sure didn't look line one in the Haskell. But that doesn't mean he still can't have a sensational ending to his 3-year-old campaign. He's still a very fast horse. Trainer Chad Brown can now look to races like the GI Allen Jerkens Memorial and, maybe, the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, where we could see what could be a scintillating showdown between Jack Christopher and Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music).

“We tried!,” began a tweet Saturday from Liz Crow, who purchased the colt for his owners. “Jack Christopher doesn't want nine furlongs. Cut him back to one turn and we will enjoy the ride from there.”

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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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