Scolding Announces Presence in Debut at Oaklawn Park

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Phoenix Thoroughbreds already have a high-class older dirt filly in Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) winner Lady Apple, a 4-year-old owned in partnership with KatieRich Stables.

Now it seems Asmussen and Phoenix Thoroughbreds have a 3-year-old filly with the potential to join the stakes ranks—Scolding, a daughter of Carpe Diem  who blasted her way to a six-length victory in her debut May 2 at Oaklawn Park. Spotted in a pace-pressing position after an alert break, she took charge after a half in :45.74 and distanced herself from 10 rivals, completing three-quarters of a mile in 1:10.02 on a fast track. 

A highlight of Scolding's performance was her final eighth of a mile, timed in :12.06 under a hand ride from jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. She earned $36,000 and paid $4 as the even-money favorite in a race with nine other first-time starters.

Bred in Kentucky by AR Enterprises, Scolding is the third winner for her dam, the Carson City mare Rebuke, who won four of eight starts and $96,568, though never farther than six furlongs. Rebuke's first two winners did so sprinting: five-furlong turf specialist Recoupe (by Indian Charlie) and River Dell (by Arch), whose lone victory was a 6 1/2-furlong race at Belmont Park.

Carpe Diem, the fourth-leading second-crop sire of 2020, stands at WinStar Farm in Kentucky for $15,000. The son of Giant's Causeway won three graded stakes, including the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

Scolding was purchased by Phoenix Thoroughbreds for $475,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds In Training from Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables consignment. The year before, she was bought for $75,000 by Charlestown Investments from consignor Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.