Oaks Notes

There were two races on Saturday – the Las Virgenes S. (G1) and Martha Washington S. -- offering points for the May 1 Kentucky Oaks (G1).

The contests were the final races in the prep season portion of the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” series of events that awarded points on a 10-4-2-1 scale. Next up will be seven races worth 50-20-10-5, followed by six that pretty much guarantee a starting berth in the Oaks thanks to a 100-40-20-10 scale.

Getting back to Saturday, though, the Las Virgenes and Martha Washington were useful races, won by Callback and reigning juvenile filly champion Take Charge Brandi, respectively.

Both fillies led all the way home, with Callback’s jockey still standing tall in the saddle rounding the turn. The duo began inching away before being tackled by Light the City heading into the stretch.

Callback looked to be shortening stride in the one-mile contest but still managed to hold off her rival for the half-length victory. She tied her highest BRIS Speed rating to date when earning a 93, the same number she was awarded for running second in the Santa Ynez S. (G2) on January 3.

Callback was trying a mile for the first time in the Las Virgenes and was game to get the win. Her tiring at the end of the race is cause for concern, but her female family is chock full of route scorers. Callback’s dam is even a half-sister to 2010 Kentucky Derby hero Super Saver, and the filly could easily continue to improve as the season continues.

Take Charge Brandi won her sophomore bow in the Martha Washington, but it wasn’t all that impressive. She had things all her own way and even appeared ready to open up in the stretch before suddenly flattening out. That allowed Sarah Sis to almost catch her in the final yards.

Take Charge Brandi rebroke a bit when Sarah Sis suddenly angled over to the inside and threatened, but it was more a case of the wire coming in time as Sarah Sis was in front on the gallop out past the line.

Also cause for concern is that Take Charge Brandi only posted an 87 BRIS Speed rating for the Martha Washington. Considering she garnered 101-93-100 BRIS Speed figures for her past three wins, that’s quite a drop.

Next up for Take Charge Brandi is the March 7 Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn, and with owner Willis D. Horton already talking Kentucky Derby (G1) – “If things work out, we may run in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and possibly the Kentucky Derby with her because (trainer D.) Wayne (Lukas) is good with fillies and he's won the Derby with fillies before" – she’s going to have to improve quite a bit to be considered a serious contender.

One other race that deserves mention from Saturday is the Suncoast S. from Tampa Bay Downs. While not a points race, the mile-and-40-yard affair might have Kentucky Oaks implications following Include Betty’s wide-trip victory.

The chestnut miss settled well off the rail in the back of that nine-filly field, outrun early to the point of not even showing up on the screen.

Include Betty suddenly appeared as the leaders were rounding the turn, and boy howdy did she appear.

Blowing past the trailers like they were standing still, Include Betty circled the entire field on the turn and continued her wide path into the lane. Huasca was in command, but Include Betty set her sights on that foe and reeled her in with quick, short strides to triumph by a neck on the wire.

The only knock against Include Betty’s performance is that she earned an 82 BRIS Speed rating. She does come from a black-type rich female family that includes the likes of Grade 1 queen My Trusty Cat as well as Grade 2 scorers Crowned and Best of Luck, though, and could continue to show more in the coming months.

In one final note, last Monday, January 26, saw a couple of nice fillies star in a mile-and-70-yard allowance/optional claimer at Fair Grounds. Lovely Maria scored by 2 ½ lengths after leading throughout for trainer Larry Jones, but it was runner-up Shook Up who really deserves some attention.

That gray miss was rank the entire race after breaking from the inside post. She really wanted the lead, but Lovely Maria had been too quick and angled over to take command on the rail. Shook Up found herself hemmed in and nearly ran up on Lovely Maria’s heels a number of times after I’m a Looker ranged up to outside.

Jockey Robby Albarado had his hands full trying to restrain Shook Up, keeping her on a tight rein with his heels dug in the stirrups. He tried to wrangle her toward the outside on the backstretch, but she insisted on staying close to the rail.

During the stretch run Shook Up would not stay straight, nearly hitting the rail while running on the wrong lead. Her head was turned sideways for much of the time, too, as Albarado struggled to keep her from going over the fence.

Shook Up was much the best in second, 9 ½ lengths clear of her nearest foe, following a 13 ½-length maiden victory on January 3 over track and distance. She earned a 90 BRIS Speed rating for Monday’s test and, despite her amateurish running, trainer Steve Asmussen said the plan is to continue on to the February 21 Rachel Alexandra S. (G3).

Photos: Take Charge Brandi - Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography
               Include Betty - SV Photography