Oxymore Turns Back No Nay Hudson in Skidmore

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Morris Bailey, and William Rucker's Oxymore  made his stakes debut a winning one in the Aug. 19 $150,000 Skidmore Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for juveniles, at Saratoga Race Course.

Oxymore, by Astern , was purchased privately following his impressive first-out score sprinting six furlongs over the Belmont Park turf on July 1 for former owner/conditioner Adam Rice. The $30,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase was transferred to conditioner Chad Brown and trained steadily into his Spa debut over the Oklahoma Training turf.

"That was a good buy. It looks like he's going to go a little longer too, which is what we were hoping for," said Sol Kumin of Madaket Stables. "It's really fun. We've got a big group of people here, some of which have never been to the races before. This is what it's all about."

With returning pilot Jose Ortiz up, Oxymore marked off splits of :21.75 and :44.77 over the firm turf under pressure from Jeremy's Jet  with No Nay Hudson  settled comfortably behind the speed in third under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez.

Oxymore was in command through the turn as No Nay Hudson came calling with his bid, briefly taking over at the stretch call, as the two rivals battled gamely the length of the stretch run. But Oxymore found another gear late to edge clear for a 1 1/4-length score in a final time of 1:02.74. 

No Nay Hudson staved off the rallying Private Creed  by three-quarters of a length to complete the exacta.

"I was a little worried down the stretch, but this horse showed his heart. Adam Rice, who trained this horse previously, did a great job," Brown said. "This ownership group bought the horse and then moved him to me. I was very impressed. The horse is well-broke and well-prepared and we just kept him moving forward. Jose knows the horse really well. He rode him in his debut and he knew just what to do there.

"I was very impressed with his heart and his stamina to just keep on going," Brown added. "When you look at the horse, he doesn't look like a sprinter, so I'm excited to get him out in distance."

Brown noted that Oxymore will point to the one-mile Nownownow Stakes Sept. 17 at Monmouth Park.

"I've been looking at that race since they sent this horse to me," Brown said. "On the stretch out going two turns with this horse and a much different pace at that point, it's pretty exciting."

The Wesley Ward-trained No Nay Hudson made his turf debut in the Skidmore following a sharp debut win in April at Keeneland and a troubled fourth in the Tremont June 9 at Belmont Park.

Ortiz said he was surprised that Oxymore turned back in distance after his debut score.

"I think he's a nice horse," Ortiz said. "I didn't think Chad would want to back him up to five-and-a-half, but he was the favorite in this stakes and he ran a great number so he decided to go here and the horse ran a very good race. He was game. Wesley's horse ran good. I knew he was going to improve on turf, he's a really nice horse. But he (Oxymore) is a really nice horse and honestly he's going to be better going a little bit longer eventually."

Bred in Kentucky by Philip Ray Robertson, Oxymore banked $82,500 in victory, while remaining perfect through two starts. He paid $4.50 for a $2 win ticket.

Video: Skidmore S. (BT)