Secret Oath rolls in Martha Washington

Jan 29, 2022 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Secret Oath put her name in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) picture, dominating the $200,000 Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park by a
7 1/4-length margin. Trained by four-time Kentucky Oaks winner D. Wayne Lukas, the chestnut daughter of Arrogate earned her first stakes tally.

The 1 1/16-mile race awarded 17 points (10-4-2-1 scale) as a
Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifier.

Secret Oath was making her second stakes attempt, finishing fifth in the Golden Rod S. (G2) at Churchill Downs in late November. A convincing
maiden winner three starts back under the Twin Spires, she was exiting an 8
1/4-length triumph over entry-level allowance foes at Oaklawn on New Year’s Eve.

After settling a few lengths back in fourth through opening
splits in :24.09 and :48.58, Secret Oath began to advance, while under a hold
from jockey Luis Contreras, entering the far turn. She accelerated to a clear lead while turning for home, rolling through the stretch to an easy win.

Secret Oath stopped the teletimer in 1:46.21, scoring as the
1-2 favorite among six rivals.

Optionality, who established the pace as the 7-2 second
choice, held second by 4 3/4 lengths over Como Square. Hypersport came next in
fourth, and Princess Pauline and Cupid’s Music competed the order.

Owned and bred in Kentucky by Robert and Stacy Mitchell’s
Briland Farm, Secret Oath is the second stakes winner from the late Arrogate,
the champion three-year-old male and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner in 2016.
The three-year-old filly hails from the Quiet American mare Absinthe Minded, a
three-time stakes winner who also placed in a pair of Grade 1 events.