By My Standards Extends Win Streak in Oaklawn Handicap
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Photo: Coady Photography
By My Standards wins the Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park
In the midst of a 2020 racing season that has been shaken up by the COVID-19 pandemic, Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards has remained a picture of consistency. The 4-year-old Goldencents colt improved his season record to 3-for-3 May 2 by digging in to win the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at a spectatorless Oaklawn Park.
The victory pushed his earnings over the million-dollar mark.
"He stepped up against a great field of horses. Lot of depth in it," trainer Bret Calhoun said. "He just kind of confirmed what we've been thinking of him. It's nice for him to prove it on the racetrack."
Away for more than half of his 3-year-old season following an 11th-place run in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), By My Standards returned Feb. 9 to win an allowance-level race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the site of his 2019 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) score. He won the March 21 New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) before shipping to Oaklawn Park for the first time.
By My Standards was up against a loaded field in the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap. He went off at 9-2 behind Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2) winner and 3-1 favorite Mr Freeze and grade 1-placed grade 2 winner Tacitus at 4-1. Razorback Handicap (G3) winner Warrior's Charge and Santa Anita Handicap (G1) victor Combatant also were in the mix.
With regular rider Gabriel Saez in the irons, By My Standards broke one post in from the outside in the 13-horse field. The bay colt raced in second just off Warrior's Charge, who set fractions of :23.02, :46.91, and 1:10.67 through six furlongs. By My Standards stuck his head in front down the stretch, but Warrior's Charge did not yield easily. Mr Freeze, who was sixth early, improved to chase in third past the grandstand, but By My Standards put his rivals away.
"The 12 hole might not have been ideal, but he overcame it," Calhoun said. "Gabe did a great job of getting position in the first turn. You didn't want to be overconfident at that point and time, but I found myself feeling pretty comfortable early in the race, once he got that position away from the gate."
The winner hit the wire in 1:47.80 on a fast track and finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Warrior's Charge in second. Mr Freeze was another half-length back in third. Tacitus, Tax, Captivating Moon, Sky Promise, Chess Chief, Night Ops, Combatant, Bravazo, Identifier, and Trophy Chaser completed the order of finish.
Grade 1 winner Improbable, who drew post 14 after finishing second in the April 11 Oaklawn Mile Stakes from the outside post, was scratched.
"I talked to Bret this morning, and he didn't give me much instruction; told me to just get the job done," Saez said. "It was a tremendous performance by (By My Standards). He broke sharp and put me right in the race where I wanted to be. I wanted to stalk the leaders.
"Around the backstretch, I was kind of cruising behind the ones in front of me and just waited for the right moment to make my move. When I asked him, he really responded. He got the job done."
Gabriel Saez shares a moment with By My Standards
By My Standards was bred in Kentucky by Don Ladd and is the second foal out of the stakes-winning Muqtarib mare A Jealous Woman. His dam foaled a Runhappy colt in 2019.
The colt was purchased by J. Stevens Bloodstock, agent for Chester Thomas' Allied Racing Stable, for $150,000 from Scanlon Training and Sales' consignment to the 2018 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The Oaklawn Handicap victory pushed his earnings to $1,281,910, compiled from a 5-2-1 record in nine starts.