Oaks prep: Secret Oath dazzles in the Honeybee for Lukas
Briland Farm’s Secret Oath secured a spot in the Kentucky Oaks starting gate with an impressive 7 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
With her third straight victory for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Secret Oath earned 50 points towards eligibility in the May 6 Oaks, which is limited to 14 starters.
The heavy favorite broke last of six and raced three wide early as Optionality set fractions of 23.15 and :47.07 seconds for the first half mile, while being pressed hard by Yuugiri. Secret Oath moved into a stalking position down backstretch and after encountering traffic around the final turn, found a seam along the rail and quickly took control of the race. She drew well clear of runner-up Ice Orchid, who received 20 Kentucky Oaks points, completing the 1 1/16 mile race in 1:44.75 over a fast track.
“I loved that acceleration,” Lukas said. “When she decides to leave them, she leaves them. Wow."
“I got a great break and good position,” jockey Luis Contreras added. “I just sat right behind and at (the three-eighths pole), she tried to pull me again. I just waited and waited. My thinking was to go outside, but I had another horse right there, so I stayed a little longer. When I saw the rail open and asked her to go, she made a tremendous move.”
Yuugiri held on for third and was followed by Free Like a Girl, Red Queen and Optionality. Yuugiri and Free Like a Girl earned 10 points and five points, respectively.
As for Secret Oath, Lukas indicated a date to take on the boys in the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 2 could be next.
“It was just another day at the office for her. She just comes waltzing home," Lukas said. "I just made the comment: ‘If she’d run over to the hotel, she’d still be widening.’ She doesn’t have any distance limitations at all. We’re going to feed her and take care of her and pack her in Styrofoam (tomorrow morning).
"She’s nominated here (Arkansas Derby) and the Kentucky Derby. You know what’s really good here? The thing that I’m most happy about is that (Oaklawn) has changed from (three) weeks in front of the Kentucky Derby to five," Lukas continued. "Boy, if you’re training a good filly, that’s another little caveat that I like. I like it if I have a colt. I like that five-week break. But if you have a filly, you’d have to say, ‘Wow.’ You’re going to get a little extra time.”
Secret Oath, by Arrogate out of multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Absinthe Minded, improved her career record to four wins from six starts and has now earned $465,167. She paid $2.60, $2.20, $2.10.