Improving Sunset Wish Headlines Martha Washington

Godolphin's homebred Sunset Wish headlines a field of seven 3-year-old fillies Feb. 2 in the $125,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park. 

The one-mile event is the first of the year at the track in Hot Springs, Ark., and awards points on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the first four finishers toward a start in this year's Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). It is also the feature on the nine-race Saturday card.

Trained by Mike Stidham, Sunset Wish closed out 2018 with back-to-back wins after coming home seventh in her Sept. 1 debut on the all-weather track at Arlington International Racecourse and returning Sept. 28 to finish second going six furlongs at Penn National Race Course.

After breaking her maiden by a neck in her next start at the Pennsylvania track, she moved up to the optional-claiming allowance level and won by 1 1/4 lengths going a mile on firm turf at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The daughter of Malibu Moon  showed versatility when she returned this year in the Jan. 4 Take Charge Brandi Stakes going 7 1/2 furlongs on dirt at Delta Downs Racetrack. Racing off the pace close to the rail, Sunset Wish had a "brief wait" in traffic on the turn for home, according to chart notes, and then drove clear of fellow Martha Washington entrant Taylor's Spirit by 2 3/4 lengths at the wire.

"We liked her quite a bit going into her first race, and that was way back in the summer at Arlington on the synthetic," Stidham said. "We stretched her out and she showed real good improvement. I was very pleased with her last race—first time in stakes company, and she stepped up nicely and finished well.

Sunset Wish has been training at Folsom Training Center just north of Fair Grounds, where she clocked a half-mile Jan. 26 in :49.3 in her most recent move.

"Certainly if she was to win a race like this at Oaklawn, it will be a step up from running at Delta in her last start. If she handles the track at Oaklawn and runs well against a little tougher company, we would keep all options open and be looking at some other stakes at either Fair Grounds or Oaklawn for her next start," Stidham said. "She's always been a filly that has shown us talent. She was a little bit quirky mentally in the beginning, and that's why we keep her off the racetrack. The quieter surroundings seem to really suit her better. Having her over at the training center is a little quieter."

Joe Bravo will ride Sunset Wish, the 9-5 favorite on the morning line, from post 4.

Mark Norman and Norman Stables' Taylor's Spirit figures to be a factor in the race, having three stakes wins to her name. The Algorithms  filly trained by Scott Gelner won her first three starts as a 2-year-old, including scores in the Prairie Gold Lassie Stakes at Prairie Meadows and the Happy Ticket Stakes at Louisiana Downs. 

After finishing off the board in the Pocahontas Stakes (G2) won by Serengeti Empress, Taylor's Spirit came back to post a 6 1/4-length win in the Oct. 19 My Trusty Cat Stakes at Delta Downs to close the season. The Take Charge Brandi was her 3-year-old debut.

Jockey Kevin Roman will ride Taylor's Spirit from post 5.

Trainer Mark Casse has entered Gary Barber's Japanese-bred Power Gal, bred by Paca Paca Farm out of the Del Mar Oaks (G1T) runner-up Nan. 

The daughter of Empire Maker  raced three times as a 2-year-old. She finished third in a Keeneland maiden race in her debut, scored in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race Nov. 3 over muddy going at Aqueduct Racetrack, and closed the year with a third in a Dec. 22 optional-claiming allowance race at six furlongs, again on a muddy track at Aqueduct.

David Cohen has the mount from post 6.

Another of note is debut winner Marathon Queen, who races for owners/breeders Alex and JoAnn Lieblong and trainer Steve Asmussen. She will leave post 2 with Ricardo Santana Jr. aboard.

The Super Saver  filly has only raced once but proved the best in a field of 10 at Fair Grounds going six furlongs on a fast track in December. She is the first foal out of Marathon Lady, who finished third in both the Mother Goose Stakes (G1) and TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) in 2013.