Nickname Among Eight Entered in Martha Washington

Grade 1 winner Nickname is among eight horses entered in the $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Oaklawn. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the filly will be making her first start since finishing fourth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. She scheduled to break from the rail Saturday under Corey Nakatani and carry equal top weight of 122 pounds.

Completing the field for the Martha Washington from the rail out: My Master Plan, Jareth Loveberry to ride, 122 pounds; Ready to Confess, Luis Quinonez, 119; Durango, Alex Canchari, 115; Dorodansa, Chris Landeros, 115; Marquee Miss, Channing Hill, 122; Lovable Lyss, Alex Cintron, 115; and Red Fern Doll, Ramon Vazquez, 115.

My Master Plan is unbeaten in four career starts, including the $100,000 Trapeze Stakes Dec. 13 at Remington Park in her last start. My Master Plan and Ready to Confess are trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel, who won the 2006 Martha Washington with Brownie Points for owner/breeder Josephine Abercrombie’s Pin Oak Stable.

Ready to Confess (another Pin Oak homebred) has won her last two starts, including an entry-level allowance/optional claimer Jan. 15 at Oaklawn – the same day Abercrombie turned 90.

Marquee Miss exits a front-running 2 ½-length victory over Durango in the $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes Jan. 15 at Oaklawn. Ingrid Mason, the trainer of Marquee Miss, ran second to champion Take Charge Brandi in last year’s Martha Washington with Sarah Sis.

Probable post time for the Martha Washington, the eighth of nine races, is 4:38 p.m. (Central). The one-mile race is the first major local two-turn prep for the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) April 9.

Source: Oaklawn Park