Secret Oath Looks Imposing in Honeybee

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas won the first four runnings of the GIII Honeybee S. starting way back in 1988, and after picking up another trophy in 2007, sits tied with fellow Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen at a record five wins in Oaklawn's penultimate GI Kentucky Oaks prep. Lukas looks well positioned to break that tie with Asmussen as he sends out expected heavy favorite Secret Oath (Arrogate) in Saturday's renewal.

Briland Farm homebred Secret Oath was a second-out romper around two turns at Churchill on Halloween before finishing a distant fifth in that venue's GII Golden Rod S. Nov. 27. She took a dramatic step forward when airing by 8 1/4 lengths in a local allowance on New Year's Eve–good for a 93 Beyer Speed Figure–and justified 1-2 odds when dominating the track-and-trip Martha Washington S. Jan. 29.

Asmussen trainee Optionality (Gun Runner), previously an easy winner of stakes at Zia Park and Remington, was 7 1/2 lengths behind Secret Oath while completing the Martha Washington exacta after setting the pace. Asmussen makes a rider switch from Ricardo Santana, Jr. to Tyler Gaffalione this time.

Yuugiri (Shackleford), piloted by Gaffalione in all three starts last season, will be ridden this time by Hall of Famer John Velazquez and seems the main danger on paper to Secret Oath. A 7 1/4-length debut romper sprinting at Churchill in September, she was a well-beaten second in the Oct. 31 Rags to Riches S. and then turned the tables on that race's winner when second in the Golden Rod. While Secret Oath has certainly flattered the form of the Golden Rod, no others have, including the winner, who was sixth in last weekend's GII Rachel Alexandra S.

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Dream Lith Rallies Late To Win Golden Rod At Churchill Downs

Yuugiri battled back after a challenge from Sandstone around the far turn, but Dream Lith's driving stretch run saw her catch Yuugiri late to take the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Yuugiril was out fastest in the 1 1/16-mile stakes, taking a two-length lead early, with Cancel This and Sandstone sitting second and third. Sandstone moved up on the backstretch, pulling within a head of Yuugiri as they came out of the far turn.

In the stretch, Yuugiri repelled Sandstone's challenged, increasing her lead as Sandstone was unable to continue pressing the leader. To her outside, Dream Lith and jockey Ramon Vazquez were driving, closing ground between the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro and the leader. In the race's final jumps, Dream Lith passed Yuugiri to win by a length, with Sandstone holding on for third.

The final time for the G2 Golden Rod was 1:44.72. Find this race's chart here.

Dream Lith paid $20.20, $8.40, and $3.60. Yuugiri paid $7.20 and $3.60. Sandstone paid $2.40.

Bred in Kentucky by Southern Equine Stables LLC, Dream Lith is out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Elle Sueno. She is owned by Cypress Creek Equine and Arnold Bennewith and trained by Robertino Diodoro. Consigned by Bluewater Sales, the filly was a $590,000 RNA at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale. With her victory in the Golden Rod, Dream Lith earns 10 points toward the 2022 Kentucky Oaks, with Yuugiri earning four points, Sandstone two points, and fourth-place Famed earning one point. The G2 stakes is the 2-year-old filly's second win in fourth starts, for career earnings of $313,455.

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Sandstone Sensational In Rags To Riches At Churchill Downs

On a card focused on the stars of tomorrow, Sandstone showed she is one to watch with her multi-length win in the Rags to Riches at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The daughter of Street Sense showed a stunning turn of foot, pulling away from a challenging Yuugiri with ease to earn her second career win and her first stakes.

In a short field of four, Sandstone went straight to the lead, putting a length between her and Yuugiri around the first turn. She maintained that lead down the backstretch, with Yuugiri mounting her challenge around the far turn.

Tyler Gaffalione and Yuugiri pulled within a head of Sandstone on the turn, hitting the stretch nearly even with Sandstone. Under the Twin Spires, Yuugiri got her nose in front briefly, but Sandstone rallied on her inside, finding another gear and kicking away easily. At the wire, Sandstone was 10 3/4 lengths in front, with Yuugiri, Mama Rina, and Manasota Sunset rounding out the order of finish.

The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.18. Find this race's chart here.

Sandstone paid $7.40, $3.00, and $2.10. Yuugiri paid $2.20 and $2.10. Mama Rina paid $2.10.

Bred in Kentucky by Mark Stansell and Cindy Stansell, Sandstone is out of the Seattle Slow mare Seattle Shimmer. Owned by Susan Moulton, the 2-year-old filly is trained by Kenny McPeek. She was consigned by Gainesway and sold to Kenneth McPeek, agent for $165,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With her win in the Rags to Riches, the filly has two wins in three starts, for career earnings of $199,960.

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Brisset Points Promising Two-Year-Olds To Street Sense, Rags To Riches At Churchill

Trainer Rodolphe Brisset began the September Meet with two trips to Churchill Downs' Woodford Reserve Winner's Circle for promising juveniles Great Escape and Yuugiri. Brisset reported Saturday night that both horses could be possible to make their next starts at Churchill Downs in the $200,000 Street Sense and $200,000 Rags to Riches, respectively, on Oct. 31.

On Friday, Sekie and Tsunebumi Yoshihara's homebred filly Yuugiri cruised to a 7 ¼-length romp at odds of 9-1. Just 24 hours later, WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's colt Great Escape broke his maiden by 2 ¼ lengths at odds of 9-5.

The Street Sense and Rags to Riches kick off the start of the Fall Meet at Churchill Downs as the headliners on “Stars of Tomorrow I.”

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