Secret Oath Stands Tall in Small Apple Blossom Field

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas' barn has been the home to some of the greatest stars of the last 40 years.

Some were brilliant. Others were tough as hickory.

A select few blended those two elements into a Hall of Fame career.

In time, it will be interesting to see if his filly Secret Oath  joins that select company.

She's certainly been brilliant at times, winning last year's Kentucky Oaks (G1). The hickory part is coming to the fore now as a 4-year-old.

Through 14 starts, the daughter of Arrogate owns a sterling mark of 6-2-3, but a year ago, at the end of her long and taxing 3-year-old season, she seemed to be regressing. In the summer, she lost two starts in grade 1 company by a combined 16 1/2 lengths to Nest , the filly who finished second behind her in the Kentucky Oaks. She then lost by nearly eight lengths in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) and was fifth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at 14-1 odds.

Yet a four-month break and Lukas' robust training system has the filly back at the top of her game.

She won the March 11 Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park by a clear 2 3/4-length margin, and on April 15 she will be back at the Arkansas track, trying to add even more glitter to her resume when she faces just three rivals in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1). 

"I think she's getting better every day," the 87-year-old Lukas said. "She's doing very, very well. She's filled out and grown into her frame. I could not be more pleased with her. Our work schedule came together right. She's coming into this race strong. The timing is right and I think she'll bounce right back and run a big one."

Owned by Briland Farm, who bred her along with Robert and Stacy Mitchell, the daughter of the Quiet American mare Absinthe Minded  surely turned in a strong effort in her comeback, beating Stonestreet Stables' multiple grade 1 winner Clairiere , who will be her main rival again Saturday at the same 1 1/16-mile distance as the Azeri.

Both Lukas and Secret Oath have enjoyed banner days at Oaklawn. Lukas, the sport's living legend, won the 1983 Apple Blossom with Miss Huntington and owns 52 stakes wins at the Hot Springs, Ark., track. He is a two-time leading trainer at Oaklawn, the last coming in 2011 when he was 75. Secret Oath, for her part, has an enviable record of four wins and a third in five starts at Oaklawn Park, but Lukas does not believe his $1.9 million earner needs to carry her racetrack with her.

"I don't think she cares where we run her," Lukas said. "She's turned into a good one."

The small size of the field could make the Apple Blossom a tactical affair as Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Hot and Sultry , who was fourth in the Azeri for trainer Norm Casse, could be the lone speed with Secret Oath, Clairiere, and overmatched starter allowance runner I Feel the Need  chasing.

"I respect all of them but the size of the field changes the complexion of the race and there will be some strategy involved," Lukas said. "But at least Secret Oath has the ability to gobble up ground."

Secret Oath, who is likely to target the $750,000 La Troienne Stakes (G1) May 5 at Churchill Downs if plans turn to fruition, will carry highweight of 123 pounds, including jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who rode her for the first time in the Azeri. That's one pound more than the Steve Asmussen-trained Clairiere.

A homebred 5-year-old daughter of Curlin  , Clairiere was also making her first start since the Distaff, when she battled with determination through a frenzied race to the wire, but finished third, beaten two noses for first in the grade 1 test at Keeneland. Sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the Azeri, the Cotillion and Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) winner was eighth early and then ran into some traffic issues at the 3/16ths pole, costing her any chance of collaring Secret Oath.

Clairiere has also been a gem of consistency, racing 17 times with a mark of 6-5-3 and earnings of $2,181,392.

She has finished second in her two career starts at Oaklawn. Aside from the Azeri, she was second to Letruska  in last year's edition of the Apple Blossom, which attracted five starters.

The 4-year-old Hot and Sultry, a daughter of Speightster , registered her lone stakes win in six career starts when she captured the six-furlong American Beauty Stakes Jan. 21 at Oaklawn Park.

Entries: Apple Blossom H. (G1)

Oaklawn Park, Saturday, April 15, 2023, Race 11

• Grade I
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $1,000,000
• 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 6:12 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Secret Oath (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	123	D. Wayne Lukas	4/5
2	2Hot and Sultry (KY)	David Cabrera	117	Norm W. Casse	5/1
3	3I Feel the Need (KY)	Chel-C Bailey	114	Burl D. McBride	20/1
4	4Clairiere (KY)	Joel Rosario	122	Steven M. Asmussen	6/5