Fondly goes for 2nd graded victory in Monmouth Oaks

There was a passing thought early in Fondly’s career that her future was on the grass. Trainer Graham Motion wasn’t against the idea but he also wasn’t convinced it was the right way to go with the filly at the outset.

“I said to Aron (Wellman, the head of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, which co-owns Fondly with Madaket Stables), 'she handles the dirt pretty darn well, so we should probably start her on the dirt,'” said Motion.

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The 3-year-old daughter of Upstart has since validated Motion’s belief with victories in two oaks, the most recent the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on June 14. She will look to add to her growing resume in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Monmouth Oaks.

The 101st edition of the Monmouth Oaks has attracted a field of seven for the 1 1/16-mile feature.

“She’s a filly we always liked a lot,” said Motion. “She obviously has shown plenty of ability in the morning,”

Unraced at 2, Fondly won at first asking by four lengths in maiden special weight company at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 14, following that with a victory in the Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs.

That’s when Motion got ambitious with her, trying the Kentucky Oaks (G1) next. Fondly finished 11th that race but bounced back in her next start to win the Delaware Oaks by three lengths.

“I think it may have been too much too soon for her,” Motion said of the Kentucky Oaks. “We ended up on a bad track. It was just a lot. We threw a lot at her that day.”

In the Delaware Oaks, despite a bobbled start, Fondly essentially went gate to wire under Irad Ortiz.

“I thought Irad gave her a beautiful ride in the Delaware Oaks,” said Motion. “He kind of had in his mind what he was going to do and everything fell into place. She handled it very well.”

Samuel Marin, coming off the first graded-stakes win of his career with Surface to Air in last Saturday’s Monmouth Cup (G3), has the call on Saturday.

A $50,000 yearling purchase, the Kentucky-bred Fondly has already banked $339,200 with three victories in four career starts. The six-week spacing between her last start and this one is ideal, according to Motion.

“I have no concerns about the timing of this race for her,” he said. “I think the timing is good.”

Though Fondly is the least experienced horse in the Monmouth Oaks field she is the most accomplished, having beaten Black Eyed Susan (G2) runner-up Paris Lily by 3 3/4 lengths in the Delaware Oaks. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Paris Lily has leading jockey Paco Lopez listed to ride.

Motion is confident his charge is ready for another challenge. She is out of the mare Lifetime, who produced 2024 Grade 3 Peter Pan winner Antiquarian.

“She is so straightforward,” he said. “She’s very professional. I normally work her on her own. She’s push button how she does things and she has always been that way.

“Obviously, she is very brave.”