Secret Oath made a five-wide move on the far turn and swept to a two-length victory over fellow Kentucky-bred Nest to win the 148th running of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 6 at Churchill Downs in front of a crowd of more than 100,000 fans.
With jockey Luis Saez riding for D. Wayne Lukas, Secret Oath covered the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:49.44 over a track listed as good. Secret Oath’s impressive victory was the fifth win in the prestigious race for Lukas, who is now tied with Woody Stephens for the most Kentucky Oaks victories (5) in history.
“I thought the race unfolded like we expected,” said Lukas. “Being in the one hole we didn’t have much choice on what to do. “I told Luis (Saez) that down the backside to get into position. When I saw him moving around the turn and I turned and hugged my wife and said, ‘here we go.’ It feels great. After you win one, the real satisfaction is for the (owners) who raised her and let them have the opportunity to enjoy this and get the thrill.”
A Briland Farm (Stacy and Rob Mitchell) homebred, Secret Oath is a daughter of Arrogate out of the Quiet American mare Absinthe Minded. The $705,250 winner’s share of the purse increased Secret Oath’s bankroll to $1,288,417 and improved her record to 8-5-0-2. Prior to the Oaks, Secret Oath finished third to the boys in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and dominated her foes in both the Honeybee Stakes (G3) and the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
It was the first time Saez had ridden Secret Oath in the afternoon, but he got acquainted with her before the historical Oaks score.
“I drove here (Churchill Downs) from Keeneland (for a workout) and she blew my mind,” Saez related. “I’ve ridden a lot of good fillies but none in my life like this one. I’m so glad to be here and blessed to win my first Kentucky Oaks.”