Ky. Derby pedigrees: Arrogate filly Secret Oath is worth buzz

On Oaklawn Park's Saturday card, trainer Wayne Lukas's Secret Oath toyed with her competitors in the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes, opening up to win by 7 1/2 lengths and galloping under the wire in 1:44.74 for 1 1/16 miles.

Six races later, Un Ojo was timed in 1:45.69 in the Rebel Stakes (G2). Lukas's Ethereal Road was a half-length second in the Rebel.

Secret Oath's triumph in the Honeybee earned her 50 qualifying points for the 2022 Kentucky Oaks. Her total of 60 points puts her at the head of the leaderboard.

The Honeybee victory was Secret Oath's third straight and fourth overall. She previously captured the listed Martha Washington by 7 1/4 lengths, an allowance contest by 8 1/4 lengths and a maiden, her second start, by 5 1/4 lengths.

Secret Oath's only off-the-board finish was in the Golden Rod (G2), when she finished fifth after a wide trip. Owned by Briland Farm and bred by Briland Farm, Robert Mitchell & Stacy Mitchell, Secret Oath has amassed $465,167 in six starts.

Secret Oath's sire, 2016 champion 3-year-old colt Arrogate (Unbridled's Song - Bubbler, by Distorted Humor), took racing by storm with a seven-race win streak, which included breaking Saratoga's 30-year old track record for 1 1/4 miles in the Travers (G1). He bested champion California Chrome in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic and Pegasus International and defeated Gun Runner by 2 1/4 lengths in the Dubai World Cup. In a career that spanned only 11 races, the pretty gray stallion earned $17,422,600, the richest North American racehorse in history.

Naturally, Arrogate was strongly supported by Juddmonte Farms, and his first book was filled with accomplished fillies and elite producers. His first crop included 109 foals. Unfortunately, his stud career and life were cut short by a neurological illness when he was only 7 years old. Nevertheless, he has 47 starters from 224 foals of racing age, 19 winners, and two stakes winners. Arrogate's daughter Alittleloveandluck won this year's Ginger Brew stakes.

Secret Oath is the third runner out of stakes winner and multiple graded-placed Absinthe Minded (Quiet American - Rockford Peach, by Great Above). Most of her half-siblings are sprinter/milers, but her sister La Fee Verte (Tiznow) won at 1 1/8 miles.

Absinthe Minded, also conditioned by Lukas, is the only black-type earner in her immediate family. She loved Oaklawn Park, earning back-to-back wins in the Bayakoa Stakes. She also captured the Pippin Stakes and hit the top three twice in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1). In all, Absinthe Minded earned $607,747 in 35 starts.

Absinthe Minded has a lot going on in her pedigree, which could account for her stakes-winning ways. Her sire, Quiet American, has Rasmussen Factor breeding to the reine-de-course (blue hen, superior female) Cequillo through half-siblings Quiet Charm and her sister Grand Splendor. Rasmussen Factor breeding happens when there is inbreeding to a superior mare through half-siblings within five generations.

Absinthe Minded has this same inbreeding to Aspidistra through half-siblings Dr. Fager and Ta Wee.

Secret Oath's pedigree class continues in her third generation with El Ordenador (Slew the Knight). The old warhorse made 42 starts and was a champion older horse in Puerto Rico.

Kentucky Derby contender or pretender?

Yes, that's right - Kentucky Derby. After Secret Oath's spectacular Honeybee victory, Wayne Lukas mentioned that he'd like to take a shot at the colts in the Arkansas Derby (G1). The filly is nominated to that race as well as the Kentucky Derby. 

Secret Oath has the pedigree and conformation of a route horse. In addition, she has a beautiful, smooth stride and tactical speed.

At 86 years old, Lukas is no stranger to sending his fillies against colts in the Derby. After striking out with his double entry of Life's Magic (8th) and Althea (19th), Lukas scored in 1998 with Winning Colors, the third and last filly to wear the roses. The trainer tried again with Serena's Song (16th) in 1995.

Secret Oath was visually impressive in the Honeybee, and I do not doubt that she could have handled colts in the Rebel. And this year's Oaklawn Park contingent isn't as strong as in previous years, so why not take a shot with Secret Oath?