Taraz Goes to 3-0 With Convincing Martha Washington Win
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Photo: Coady Photography
Taraz wins the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park
Juddmonte Farms' homebred Taraz is already a heavyweight, but she proved light on her feet Feb. 1 as she waltzed to an easy victory in the $142,500 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park, pushing her record to 3-for-3 with a combined margin of 22 1/2 lengths.
The 3-year-old filly is already big for her age, and used that size to power to the lead despite starting a step slow in the four-horse race. She took jockey Florent Geroux to the front after a furlong and was never threatened for the rest of the one-mile contest.
The Brad Cox trainee aced her first trip around two turns in the mile race and won by 3 3/4 lengths over O Seraphina in a final time of 1:38:64 on a fast track. She paid $2.20 and 2.10 as the 1-10 favorite.
"I love her," said Geroux, who never had to unleash his riding crop. "She ended up good today. I think she's definitely super talented."
The other three fillies in the race followed Taraz around in order, with High On Gin third and Princesinha Julia fourth. The scratch of Shedaresthedevil forced the cancellation of show wagering.
"It was a big effort in her first race around two turns," Cox said. "We knew she would be tough to catch, but she has a lot of improving to do. Her talent is there, but she needs to settle down mentally."
Taraz is a third-generation Juddmonte-bred filly and the first stakes winner out of her dam, Silk Route, by recently deceased breed-shaper Empire Maker. She has a juvenile full brother named Silk Trade and a yearling half sister by Flintshire . Her female family traces to high-profile turf mares including her fourth dam, Epsom Oaks (G1) runner-up Where You Lead, the dam of group 3 winner I Will Follow, who in turn produced multiple group 1 winner and highly successful sire Rainbow Quest.
Cox spoke before the race of eyeing a start for the daughter of Into Mischief on the Road to the Kentucky Derby instead of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, but he was reticent Saturday to name where her next start will be. She won the Letellier Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in her previous start after breaking her maiden at Churchill Downs in November.
Taraz picked up 10 qualifying points toward the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), good enough to rank her seventh on the leaderboard. Though she is Triple Crown-nominated, she would have to race against males on the Road to the Kentucky Derby to earn a spot in the 20-horse field for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).