Martha Washington pits Secret Oath against Optionality

Jan 24, 2022 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Before Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls take the stage in the Southwest S. (G3), Kentucky Oaks (G1) aspirants will compete over the same 1 1/16-mile circuit at Oaklawn Park in the $200,000 Martha Washington S. Saturday’s 4TH race, slated for 2:32 p.m. (ET), pits highly-regarded Secret Oath against the streaking Optionality.

Secret Oath, from the first crop of Arrogate, was an impressive Churchill Downs maiden winner for Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. Although a disappointing fifth in the Golden Rod (G2), she rebounded with an allowance tour de force at Oaklawn on Dec. 31. Secret Oath might have inherited a fondness for Hot Springs from her dam, Absinthe Minded, who won three stakes here for the same connections. Herself a Briland Farm runner trained by Lukas, Absinthe Minded also placed in the 2011-12 editions of the Apple Blossom H. (G1).
Optionality has won her past three by a combined margin of 21 1/2 lengths. Trained by Steve Asmussen for Winchell Thoroughbreds, the homebred daughter of Gun Runner has overwhelmed the opposition in an Indiana Grand maiden, the six-furlong Zia Park Princess, and the one-mile Trapeze S. at Remington Park. Stablemate Princess Pauline, still a maiden after four starts, is trying to live up to her bloodlines as the offspring of Curlin and Grade 2 winner Keen Pauline.

Como Square, a half-sister to last year’s Smarty Jones S. winner and Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Caddo River, steps up in trip after winning both her sprint starts. The Brad Cox pupil rallied from well off the pace in an Indiana Grand maiden and an Oaklawn allowance. In the latter, Como Square capitalized on a pace meltdown that embroiled her stablemate, hot favorite Marr Time. 

The remaining two entrants, Hypersport and Cupid’s Music, finished well behind in Secret Oath’s allowance. Hypersport faded to fourth after setting a pressured pace, and she projects to go forward from the rail here. Cupid’s Music, who trailed the allowance field, faces a tall task to engineer a form turnaround.

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