Wicked Halo, Matareya lead field in Oaklawn's new Matron Stakes

Oaklawn created the Matron Stakes to enhance its program for older female sprinters and with the hope of earning graded status quickly.

So far, so good.

Friday’s inaugural $250,000 Matron has lured a field of seven, including Grade 1 winner Matareya for trainer Brad Cox, multiple Grade 2 winner Wicked Halo for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and Grade 3 winner Pretty Birdie for trainer Norm Casse.

Probable post time for the six-furlong Matron, which anchors a 10-race card, is 5:58 p.m. EDT.

After closing her 2-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish behind eventual Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath in a 1-mile allowance race at Oaklawn, trainer Brad Cox targeted one-turn races for Matareya at 3. Cox was rewarded as Matareya, a homebred daughter of Pioneerofthe Nile for Godolphin, won four consecutive starts, including the Beaumont (G3) at about seven furlongs in April at Keeneland, the Eight Belles (G2) at seven furlongs in May at Churchill Downs and the Acorn (G1) at 1 mile in June at Belmont Park.

Cox decided to stop on Matareya after a third-place finish in the Test Stakes (G1) at seven furlongs Aug. 6 at Saratoga in preparation for a 4-year-old campaign. A supplemental nominee, the Matron is Matareya’s expected bridge to the Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares at seven furlongs May 6 at Churchill Downs, Cox said. The Matron will be Matareya’s first start against older horses.

“She’s training amazing,” Cox said of Matareya, who has been based this winter and early spring at Fair Grounds. “Three-quarters is probably not her cup of tea, but this is a great spot to get her started. It’s a prep for what we’re hoping will be Kentucky Derby Day in the Derby City Distaff.”

Program favorite Wicked Halo hasn’t started since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at seven furlongs Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

Sandwiched around a third-place finish behind Matareya and Pretty Birdie in the Eight Belles and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Wicked Halo won four consecutive starts, including the Prioress (G2) at six furlongs Sept. 2 at Saratoga and the Raven Run (G2) at seven furlongs Oct. 22 at Keeneland. Wicked Halo ran twice at the 2021-22 Oaklawn meeting, finishing fourth in the Dixie Belle and third behind Pretty Bridie in the Purple Martin. Both six-furlong races were for 3-year-old fillies.

After winning the Purple Martin, the speedy Pretty Birdie returned to Oaklawn to win the Poinsettia Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs Dec. 17 and run second to Yuugiri in the Carousel Stakes at six furlongs Feb. 25 in her last start.

“With Pretty Birdie, we have a fitness edge over two really nice fillies,” Casse said, referring to Matareya and Wicked Halo. “But probably more importantly is tactically and race-shape wise, I think we’re at a bit of an advantage. I feel like both of those horses are better suited going a little longer. Personally, I think Pretty Birdie is sitting on a really big race. We’re going to go over there pretty confident.”

Pretty Birdie was beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Yuugiri over a sloppy surface after setting fractions of 21.41 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.97 for a half-mile. Pretty Birdie won the Purple Martin and Poinsettia in gate-to-wire fashion. Yuugiri is skipping the Matron in favor of the Madison (G1) for older fillies and mares at seven furlongs April 8 at Keeneland.

“I just feel like she really likes Oaklawn Park,” Casse said, referring to Pretty Birdie. “I feel like the last race against Yuugiri, I’m not so sure she likes an off track as much as a fast main track. We set some serious fractions in the last race. I don’t know if we’re going to have to do that this go-round.”

Pretty Birdie is seeking her fourth career stakes victory. She won the Schuylerville (G3) for 2-year-old filly sprinters in 2021 at Saratoga.

I’m the Boss of Me finished second to the Casse-trained Hot and Sultry in the American Beauty Stakes for older female sprinters Jan. 21 at Oaklawn for trainer Greg Compton. Teddy’s Barino did not make the trip from California and will be scratched.