Southlawn rallies boldly for Fair Grounds Oaks

Mar 25, 2023 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Southlawn entered
the Kentucky
Oaks (G1) picture with a fast-closing win in Saturday’s $376,000 TwinSpires.com
Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), overhauling Pretty Mischievous in deep stretch and
driving clear to a 3 1/4-length decision. The Norm Casse-trained daughter of
Pioneerof the Nile registered her first stakes victory when completing 1 1/16
miles in 1:44.38 with Reylu Gutierrez.

An eight-length allowance winner when opening her
three-year-old season in a Feb. 17 allowance at Fair Grounds, Southlawn was making her second
stakes appearance, recording an unplaced finish in the Pocahontas (G3) last
fall. She won only one of five juvenile starts, but Southlawn looks like a
different filly for owner Robert Masterson at age three. She’ll bring a strong
finishing kick to the Kentucky Oaks.

The Fair Grounds Oaks served as a major qualifier in the Road to
the Kentucky Oaks series, awarding points on a 100-40-30-20-10 basis to the
top five, and Pretty Mischievous padded her bankroll finishing a clear second.

Winner of the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and Untapable in her
last two outings, 1.30-1 second choice Pretty Mischievous closely stalked in
third before advancing to overhaul 6-5 favorite Hoosier Philly in upper
stretch, briefly drawing clear. And while she proved no match for Southlawn,
Pretty Mischievous easily held second by 3 3/4 lengths over The Alys Look, who
rallied belatedly in her first outing since winning the Silverbulletday S. in
late January.

It was another 8 3/4 lengths to Hoosier Philly, who had
excuses weakening to fourth. Christian d’Oro was eased after showing speed.

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Southlawn was acquired for
$290,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale, and the bay miss is the
first stakes scorer from stakes-winning Uncle Mo mare Mo d’Amour.