2022 Kentucky Oaks trail: Secret Oath wins Martha Washington

Briland Farm’s Secret Oath won like a 1-2 favorite should when she drew off to win Saturday’s $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes in dominating fashion and in the process earned 10 points towards eligibility in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks.

Secret Oath settled into fourth as Optionality set easy fractions of 24.09 and 48.58 for the first half mile. The winner dragged her jockey Luis Contreras to the lead rounding the turn for home and from there the race was for second-place only as Secret Oath drew off to win by 7 1/4 lengths in 1:46.21 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track.

Optionality held on for second, 4 3/4 lengths in front of Como Square. They earned four and two points, respectively towards Kentucky Oaks eligibility, while Hypersport earned one point for finishing fourth. The Kentucky Oaks is limited to 14 starters.

“I had a great trip,” Contreras said. “I had so much horse the whole way around. Once I got her on the outside of the horses, she gave me everything she had.”

Secret Oath, an Arrogate filly out of three-time Oaklawn stakes winner Absinthe Minded, won for the third time in five starts and had now earned $285,167. The heavy favorite paid $3, $2.20 and $2.10.

The remaining races in Oaklawn’s Kentucky Oaks series are the $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) (85 points) on Feb. 26 and $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) (170 points) on April 2.