Treasured memory: A March day at Oaklawn

In late December, many of Horse Racing Nation's bloggers weighed in on their favorite race of 2015. What can I say, I missed the deadline. My favorite race of the year was an obvious one: American Pharoah's Triple Crown win at Belmont. However that's not my favorite story of the year. So let's go there.

The day before American Pharaoh splashed to an easy victory in the Rebel Stakes, there was an unheralded winner who nonetheless captured the excitement of the group I was with at Oaklawn Park.

It was the first outing for Treasure Box, a 3-year-old half-sister to millionaire and two-time Grade I winner On Fire Baby, whom I had followed and loved. Treasure Box was facing an experienced field in a higher-level maiden race at 1 1/16th miles, with morning-line odds of 30-1. 

The group was at Oaklawn for racing and an annual gathering. Not track regulars, they were eager to soak up my knowledge of racers that day. I was telling a friend I was excited about Treasure Box's first race. A few more started listening in. I told them a little about owner Anita Cauley and the record she has put together with progeny of her mare Ornate, the dam of On Fire Baby and Treasure Box. I told them On Fire Baby had two wins at Oaklawn, including the Grade I Appleblossom Handicap. I related how On Fire Baby would stand so calmly in the paddock, blinking slowly with her eyes half closed.

I told them the bit I knew about the other runners by Ornate, fillies French Kiss and High Heels.

As sometimes happens with a big group at the track, we all went different directions after that. Treasure Box's race was the last of the day. I watched with my husband, Kyle, from bleachers near the finish line. 

When the gates opened, she stumbled. Badly. I was sure she'd lost the race right there. Then she dawdled. Or struggled. The chart from the race says "Lagged on the backstretch." Joe Johnson was riding. How do jockeys stay calm at times like this? I was thinking to myself, Oh, I hope nobody listened to my romanticism and put too much money on this filly. 

It was one of those "What was that?" moments. First out, disaster averted, maiden win.

We went inside, grinning — so excited to see her nail her first race. Also, I had a ticket to cash. She paid $31.80 to win. Then I saw in line several members of the group, laughing and yelling. "She won! We won!" Absolute glee. One by one, they hugged me tight and said thanks for the great story. Most of them were cashing out for almost $80. Some, more than that. So at this point, I'm pretty cool. But for the record: I was just talking. I had no idea how that race would turn out. Do we ever? 

I wish things had gone better for Treasure Box after that. She was injured — a fractured tibia — and off the track for a long while. It seemed like forever before a workout notice came over. After a series of works at Churchill Downs, she was entered in an allowance race Nov. 21. I couldn't wait. I tuned in that day to watch, but it wasn't meant to be. She trailed the field. Chart comment was simply "No factor." Maybe a week later, I saw in Oaklawn Park's notes that she'd been retired and would be bred. We'll have to wait for her foals.

There are at least a couple more Cauley runners I look forward to keeping an eye on this season at Oaklawn. Purr is a 4-year-old filly out of French Kiss by Bluegrass Cat. Also from French Kiss, there is Fuhriously Kissed, a 2-year-old filly by Langfuhr.

Next up in this space: Runners I'll be watching for on opening weekend. As a reminder: Opening day is Jan. 15. Feature races over the weekend include the Dixie Belle, Fifth Season, Pippin and Smarty Jones.