Secret Oath Stands Tall in Honeybee

Briland Farm’s homebred Secret Oath  could be on the path to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) should the daughter of Arrogate continue her dominance over the Oaklawn Park oval.

Since shipping into Hot Springs, Ark., this past winter, Secret Oath has landed her last two starts by a combined 15 1/2 lengths, including a 7 1/4-length romp in the Jan. 29 Martha Washington Stakes over a salty group of sophomore fillies. Her latest victory left her connections considering the April 2 $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) as a possibility if all goes well in what could be her last foray amongs fillies in the Feb. 26 $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3).

"The way (Secret Oath) won is what you like to see, if it was a colt," said trainer D. Wayne Lukas. "We're going to leave all our options on the table. You don't have to nominate (to the Arkansas Derby) until March 18. She's not in it now. But if I think she was dominant, and we'll see what the Rebel (G2) produces—I've done it before and I'm not beyond doing it again. I did it with Althea. I did it with Winning Colors in California with great success."

The Hall of Fame trainer's Winning Colors coasted to a front-running 7 1/2-length victory in the 1988 Santa Anita Derby (G1) before etching her name in the history books with a dramatic score in the Run for the Roses. Althea, based at Oaklawn Park for Lukas for her spring 3-year-old campaign, was second in the Fantasy Stakes (G1) against fillies before equaling the track record when defeating the boys in the 1984 Arkansas Derby (G1). She finished unplaced in that year’s Kentucky Derby.

"If you're looking at the Derby picture with a filly, there's a couple of things," said Lukas. "No. 1, I think they have to be dominant, no matter what their sex. You have to feel comfortable. No. 2, I think you need to check the depth of the pool before you get into the deep end."

After her Martha Washington tally, Secret Oath collected 10 points towards a starting slot in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). The 1 1/16-mile Honeybee is worth 50 points to the winner and is a prep for Oaklawn’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies, the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) on Arkansas Derby day.

A key component to Secret Oath's success has been her ability to settle off the pace kindly for her rider, which will only aid the chestnut this spring as the races grow longer and tougher. With the speedy Martha Washington runner-up Optionality  returning, as well as Louisiana shipper Free Like a Girl , and graded stakes-placed Yuugiri  sure to be fresh entering the starting gate off a three-month layoff, Secret Oath's ratability should only play to her favor in what looks to be a quick tempo up front.

Luis Contreras retains the mount on Secret Oath.

Sekie and Tsunebumi Yoshihara's Yuugiri was an impressive debut winner last September at Churchill Downs before running a distant second going 1 1/16-miles in the Oct. 31 Rags to Riches Stakes. In her last effort of the season before being put away, the Shackleford  filly redeemed herself around two turns, making almost every pole a winning one in the Nov. 27 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) before yielding late to Dream Lith .

"All (Yuugiri)'s works have been really good," said trainer Rodolphe Brisset. "We feel like she's matured a lot. She's got good weight. So far, knock on wood, we have nothing in the way. It's not an easy spot to come back. If she wins, that's good. If she gets beat a couple of lengths and we run a good third, we're still in the picture."

Yuugiri, to be piloted by John Velazquez in the Honeybee, earned four points toward Kentucky Oaks starting eligibility with her runner-up finish in the Golden Rod.

Also joining the six-horse field are recent Oaklawn maiden winners Ice Orchid  and Red Queen .

Entries: Honeybee S. (G3)

Oaklawn Park, Saturday, February 26, 2022, Race 5

• Grade III
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 2:10 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Optionality (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	119	Steven M. Asmussen	7/2
2	2Yuugiri (KY)	John R. Velazquez	117	Rodolphe Brisset	5/2
3	3Secret Oath (KY)	Luis Contreras	122	D. Wayne Lukas	3/2
4	4Ice Orchid (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	117	John Alexander Ortiz	6/1
5	5Free Like a Girl (LA)	Pedro L. Cotto, Jr.	122	Carl J. Deville	6/1
6	6Red Queen (KY)	Francisco Arrieta	117	Genaro Garcia	15/1