Zipse: Secret Oath is sensational in her season debut

In 2022, Secret Oath danced every dance. A throwback to iron horses of the past, the daughter of Arrogate had her ups and downs through it all. If her 2023 debut is any indication, the 4-year-old filly is none the worse for wear after a taxing sophomore season.

Given a rest for the first time in her racing career. Secret Oath made it back to the races Saturday for the first time since leading into the stretch of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The four-month-plus hiatus seemed to do wonders for the millionaire, as she rolled to victory in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

You don’t get any more old-school than Lukas. His Hall of Fame career has been built on not keeping his big horses in the barn. Eschewing the current trend of running America’s best horses like they’re in a witness-protection program, the 87-year-old is easy to root for these days.

The anti-Flightline campaign of Secret Oath last season was met with mixed reviews by many who’ve become accustomed to the state of racing. But Lukas knows what he is doing, as evidenced by his 14 wins in the Triple Crown series and 20 victories in Breeders’ Cup races.

He tried to add to both last year with his star filly, but Secret Oath came up a bit short in the Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Still, it was a season in which she ran in nine stakes races, with the last seven being Grade 1s.

She took on the boys twice and although unsuccessful, she did not embarrass herself. She won three stakes, with the big one coming on the first Friday in May in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). No matter what happens after, Secret Oath always will have that impressive victory in the filly classic.

Looking to emulate some of the great Lukas-trained mares of the past, such as the incomparable Lady’s Secret, Secret Oath is back for more, and she could be poised for a big season in 2023.

On paper, the Azeri was no easy spot to make a return to the races. It featured a host of stakes winners, led by the multiple Grade 1 stakes-winning mare Clairiere.

Having run by Secret Oath when they first met in the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, the 5-year-old mare was made the 11-10 favorite in the field of eight. Close behind in the betting was Secret Oath at 7-5.

As many in the field were sent out to contest or track the early pace, the two favorites were content to sit back and relax early in last and second to last.

Given a heady ride by new rider Tyler Gaffalione, Secret Oath shifted smoothly from off the rail to the outside on the backstretch and poised to pounce on the turn. Her sweeping move was a thing of beauty, and as Clairiere found traffic, Secret Oath cruised to a comprehensive 2 3/4-length victory over her rival.

Flashing that impressive turn of foot that we saw in her Kentucky Oaks glory, Secret Oath has laid down the early gauntlet in the race to replace Malathaat as the champion older female.

She will get right back to Grade 1 business next time when she runs next in the $1 million Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn on Apr. 15. After that, who knows? With Lukas running the show, you can expect another interesting campaign.

If her ambitious racing schedule, pleasing turn of foot and octogenarian trainer are not enough to make you a Secret Oath fan, there is also the Arrogate factor going for the Briland Farm homebred.

A sensational champion on the track, Secret Oath is one of four Grade 1 winners sired by Arrogate, whose sad death came at age 7 in 2020.

With so much to like about Saturday’s Azeri winner, it was a treat to see her snap her losing streak in such impressive fashion against a solid field at one of her favorite tracks.

Now a winner of 6-of-14 lifetime, and with just a shade under $2 million in earnings, it’s time to see what a more mature version of Secret Oath can be.

Having enjoyed a winter rest, she looks primed to be a force in 2023. And with Lukas at the helm, it promises to be a spellbinding ride.