Oaklawn: Quietside returns to Oaks trail in Martha Washington

Quietside, one of the country’s leading 2-year-old fillies, will make her 3-year-old debut in the $300,000 Martha Washington Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 25 at Oaklawn, trainer John Ortiz said Sunday morning.

The Martha Washington is Oaklawn’s first of three qualifying races for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks (G1). It carries a stakes-record purse in 2025 after previously being worth $250,000.

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A homebred for Arkansas-based Shortleaf Stable run by John Ed Anthony, Quietside is training at Oaklawn after completing her 2-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish in the $400,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs. Quietside was beaten by 2 1/2 lengths by Good Cheer, who surged to the lead late on the second turn.

“Quietside’s doing fantastic,” Ortiz said. “She came back out of that race in great shape. Looking a little bit more tight and fit. She’s really developing into her 3-year-old body, so we’re excited about it.”

The Golden Rod was Quietside’s fourth career start. The daughter of Malibu Moon won her Aug. 4 debut at Saratoga by 6 1/4 lengths and then finished second behind division leader Immersive in the $300,000 Spinaway (G1) Aug. 31, also at Saratoga. In her two-turn debut, Quietside finished third behind Immersive in the $600,000 Alcibiades (G1) at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 4 at Keeneland.

Quietside earned a career-high 86 Equibase Speed Figure in the Golden Rod, which was run over a fast track. Immersive and Good Cheer, both unbeaten, are part of trainer Brad Cox’s deep roster of 2-year-old fillies.

“When (Good Cheer) went by her, you thought shoot, but then Quietside came back,” said John Gasper, Anthony’s racing manager. “She beat the third horse six lengths. I told John Ed she ran a really good number. She ran hard. She gives you what she’s got every time.”

The Martha Washington will offer 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points to the top five finishers toward eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks. Quietside, based on her finishes in the Alcibiades and Golden Rod, already has collected eight points.

Oaklawn’s Kentucky Oaks prep series continues with the $500,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) on Feb. 22 and the $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) on March 29. Each race is 1 1/16 miles.

Thorpedo Anna swept the Fantasy and Kentucky Oaks in 2024.