Oxy Lady 'a lot more focused' for Aqueduct's Busher Invitational

Calumet Farm's Oxy Lady looks poised to shrug off her last effort as she readies for Aqueduct's $250,000 Busher Invitational, trainer Jack Sisterson said.

 

Oxy Lady ran sixth in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra, getting caught four-wide around Fair Grounds' first turn before settling toward the rear in the 1 1/6-mile route February 16. Cutting back to a mile in the 40th running of the Busher for 3-year-old fillies, Oxy Lady will look to recapture the form that saw her start her career with two wins through her first four starts.

 

"She came out of her last race in great shape," Sisterson said. "She seems a lot more focused. I think you can put a line through the Rachel Alexandra. She did everything right leading up to that race. I take the blame for not having her 100 percent ready."

 

Bred in Kentucky, Oxy Lady is 2-1-1 in six career starts, including 2-0-1 in three starts at the Busher distance. She will now be looking to earn points towards qualifying for the Kentucky Oaks, with the Busher awarding 50-20-10-5 points to the top-four finishers.

 

Oxy Lady will be making her first appearance at Aqueduct since winning the Grade 3 Tempted at a mile on November 2, coming from off the speed to post a five-length win and a personal-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

 

"She has tactical speed and can be behind the pace. She's pretty versatile," Sisterson said.

 

The daughter of Oxbow gave Sisterson his first career graded stakes win in the Tempted. The 34-year-old native of England was an assistant to Doug O'Neill, including playing a key role during I'll Have Another's 2012 Triple Crown bid that included a victory in that year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness before a tendon injury forced his retirement.

 

Out on his own since 2018, Sisterson entered the weekend with six career wins in 67 starts. Earning him his first stakes trip to the winner's circle as a head trainer has created a special bond with Oxy Lady, according to her conditioner.

 

"It's great, she's done all the hard work," Sisterson said. "There's a bond there. My staff did a great job to have her ready. I can't take too much credit. She's a nice filly."