What we learned: Secret Oath faster than males on Rebel card

Back in the old times, trainer D. Wayne Lukas took shots with female horses in open company quite often. In fact, he trained an iron filly named Serena’s Song who competed against males an incredible seven times in her career. One of starts included a win on the Kentucky Derby trail at Turfway Park, and she made an unsuccessful attempt in the Run for the Roses.

Lukas might go down a similar route with Secret Oath, who easily won the Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Saturday. Although Secret Oath benefited from a fast pace in front of her, she also experienced traffic on the far turn and had to wait. She overcame it like a true professional before turning on the rocket boosters in the stretch.

Watch as Ice Orchid keeps Secret Oath trapped on the inside.

Once Secret Oath receives an opening, she powers clear.

Even though jockey Luis Contreras took out the whip past mid-stretch, he made use of the stick only to make sure Secret Path kept a straight line. Secret Path drew clear to win by an impressive 7 1/2 lengths.

Ice Orchid passed the tired pace horses for second, while Yuugiri faded to third. The pacesetter Optionality folded badly to last by 39 lengths.

The exciting part is that Secret Oath finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.74. Compared with the other 3-year-old races at the same distance on the card, Secret Oath turned in the fastest race on raw time. Not even the Rebel Stakes (G2) went faster, as Un Ojo finished in 1:45.69.

An optional claimer and maiden special weight made up the other two 1 1/16-mile races. Call Me Jamal won an optional claiming race in 1:45.45 and Curly Tail broke his maiden in 1:45.63. Secret Oath beat all three of those final times, which helps build the case that she can handle competing in the Arkansas Derby (G1) next time. 

With Secret Oath’s Kentucky Oaks spot locked up, Lukas has hinted he will point her toward the Arkansas Derby. Plans could end up changing, and the move does not come without controversy from traditionalists. But it seems like the proper move for this filly. 

Given trainer Bob Baffert’s suspension this year and the lack of a true 3-year-old standout from other barns, this is the right year for a top filly to take a shot at the Derby trail. If nothing else, Secret Oath will add intrigue and fan interest if she can earn enough points to enter the Kentucky Derby in May.

If Secret Oath fails against colts in a few weeks, the connections can always reverse course and point toward the Kentucky Oaks instead.  

Rebel Stakes 3-year-olds ones to avoid

In mid-stretch, Ethereal Road locked up the featured Rebel Stakes (G2) for aspiring Kentucky Derby contenders.

The favorite Newgrange could not keep pace with Ethereal Road on the far turn and faded out of the picture at the top of the stretch. The pacesetter Kavod put up a fight, but he started to get tired. Un Ojo kept himself within range on the rail – could a 75-1 shot beat Ethereal Road?

It turns out the answer is yes.

Un Ojo kept grinding away to edge Ethereal Road by half a length.

Barber Road also closed late to finish third, while Kavod faded to fourth for the second time in a row after his fourth in the Southwest Stakes (G3).

Upon reflection, it is disappointing that Ethereal Road did not finish off the race by winning. He had a clear run. Instead, he let a 75-1 shot whose only previous win came at Delta Downs narrowly beat him for the win. If the finish line had not come up, he was going to lose second too.

By finishing in 1:45.69, Un Ojo ran the slowest time out of the four 1 1/16-mile races for 3-year-olds (one of them was for fillies). Un Ojo’s final time also resulted in a ho-hum 84 Beyer Speed Figure and 107 TimeformUS Speed Figure, which both are below standard at this point in the season.  

For what it is worth, it did rain a little bit. Regardless, the entire Rebel field looks suspect moving forward. Bring on Secret Oath in the Arkansas Derby. With an average group of 3-year-olds at Oaklawn, this is the right time for Lukas to go old school and enter Secret Oath against males.