Promising Edgeway Receives Class Test in Purple Martin

COVID-19-related cancellations have gutted most of the stakes races across the country this weekend, including the Toyota Blue Grass (G2), Wood Memorial Stakes (G2), and Santa Anita Derby (G1), but there is still one left standing on April 4: the $100,000 Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn Park. 

In part caused by the massive reduction of racing elsewhere, the six-furlong dirt race is stacked, drawing invaders from Kentucky, Florida, and Arizona to join an already talented group of Arkansas-based 3-year-old fillies.

Dual stakes winner Kimari enters from Keeneland, where she has been working toward her season debut; Frank's Rockette ships from Payson Park after winning the Feb. 22 Any Limit Stakes at Gulfstream Park in sparkling time; and Bootytama comes by way of Turf Paradise, where she was untouchable in winning three starts by a combined margin of more than 20 lengths.

Then there are the locals, which include Dixie Belle Stakes winner Ring Leader; Lexi On the Move, unbeaten in two starts; and Edgeway, a five-length first-out maiden winner.

Despite her inexperience, Edgeway is 3-1 on the morning line after blitzing six furlongs in her Feb. 29 debut at Oaklawn in 1:09.05 on a fast track under Tyler Baze, who has the return mount. 

Hronis Racing owns the 3-year-old daughter of Competitive Edge  who was purchased for $275,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training by Anthony Martin from the Mayberry Farm consignment. Shortly before the sale, she worked a furlong in :10 flat at OBS.

Bred in Kentucky by Pope McLean and David and Valerie Blethen, Edgeway is out of the stakes-winning Stormin Fever mare Magical Solution, a half sister to 2012 Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (G1) winner The Lumber Guy.

"She's got all the upside," trainer John Sadler said.

The California-based conditioner said he came away excited about Edgeway in February after traveling to Arkansas to oversee a division of runners he has at Oaklawn. A work leading up to her debut "just wowed me," he said.

Illustrating the accomplishments of the field, four of the 10 entrants are already group- or graded-placed: Kimari, Lady Glamour, Frank's Rockette, and Kiss the Girl.

Frank's Rockette even managed graded placings at the highest level, finishing second in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) and Frizette Stakes (G1) last year at 2. The daughter of Into Mischief  also was the runner-up in the Adirondack Stakes (G2) for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations.

Martin Garcia will ride the filly, who won the Any Limit in frontrunning fashion in her first start at 3, racing six furlongs in 1:09.51 on a fast Gulfstream surface. She is the morning-line favorite at 5-2, just ahead of Edgeway.

Kimari traveled overseas for her group placing, finishing second when beaten a head in the 25-horse Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot, one of four turf races last year for the Munnings  filly, who won by 15 lengths at first asking in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race on dirt at Keeneland. She also won the Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland before rallying for fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) at Santa Anita Park in her final start at 2 for owner David Mowat's Ten Broeck Farm.

Slow to get in gear in the Breeders' Cup, she rallied belatedly to narrowly miss third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths by winner and stablemate Four Wheel Drive.

Trainer Wesley Ward believes she is just as talented on dirt, "if not better." He said he kept her on grass last year after she came out of her lone dirt race with some shoulder soreness, but with that setback behind her, he is eager to return her to dirt. 

He twice worked her on dirt at Gulfstream Park West this winter in Florida before shipping her to Keeneland, where he hoped to run her in the Beaumont Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3). The Lexington track canceled its spring meet because of COVID-19.

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who rode Kimari in the Indian Summer, has been named to ride.

Post time for the Purple Martin is 5:09 CT as part of a 10-race card at Oaklawn, which remains closed to the public and is limited to participating horsemen and track staff.

Entries: Purple Martin S.

Oaklawn Park, Saturday, April 04, 2020, Race 9

• STK
• 6f
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 5:09 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Kimari (KY)	Mike E. Smith	119	Wesley A. Ward	4/1
2	2Ring Leader (KY)	Joseph Talamo	122	McLean Robertson	6/1
3	3Flat Out Speed (IA)	Alex L. Canchari	122	Lynn Chleborad	20/1
4	4Edgeway (KY)	Tyler Baze	117	John W. Sadler	3/1
5	5Bootytama (KY)	Stewart Elliott	117	Molly J. Pearson	12/1
6	6Lexi On the Move (KY)	David Cohen	122	Robertino Diodoro	8/1
7	7Lady Glamour (KY)	Julie Burke	117	Kenny P. Smith	15/1
8	8Frank's Rockette (KY)	Martin Garcia	119	William I. Mott	5/2
9	9Kiss the Girl (MD)	Joseph Rocco, Jr.	122	Steven M. Asmussen	15/1
10	10Wasabi Girl (KY)	Ramon A. Vazquez	119	Steven M. Asmussen	15/1