Jon W. Sather’s Ladyledue will seek to rebound from her first career defeat when Emerald Downs presents the 30th running of the $75,000 Washington Oaks on Saturday.
The Oaks at 1 1/8 miles is the meet’s championship event for 3-year-old fillies and begins a weekend of superlative stakes activity that culminates Sunday, with 74th running of the $300,000 Longacres Mile (Grade III) for and the 14th running of the $100,000 Emerald Distaff.
A Washington-bred by Slewdledo, Ladyledue (6-5-0-0-$121,761) became the first Washington horse in nearly a quarter-century to begin her career with five straight stakes victories, a streak that ended in the July 19 Washington’s Lottery Handicap when she bobbled at the break and eventually gave way on the last turn. Trained by Bonnie Jenne, Ladyledue worked six furlongs in a bullet 1:12 on Aug. 8, and appears primed to make amends in the Oaks.
Swag Stables’ No Flies On Doodle (5-3-2-0-$49,975) led all the way in the 1 1/16-mile Washington’s Lottery and is rapidly improving for trainer Vann Belvoir. The Washington-bred by Storm Blast not only proved she could route, she also surprised many observers by taking the race to Ladyledue early.
Ivor and Jack Jones’ Point of Reference (9-3-2-3-$91,168) is a hard-hitting filly who should benefit from her runner-up effort in the Washington’s Lottery. It was the first local start for the Washington-bred Benchmark filly, and the nine-furlong distance should be in her wheelhouse. Point of Reference was stakes-placed three times in California, including a nose defeat to Will O Way in the $100,000 California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields.
Doris Harwood, the leading stakes trainer at the meet, nominated the maiden Seeking Ema (9-0-4-3-$40,867) and recent route winner Where I Belong (9-2-4-0-$35,563). Harwood saddled Elusive Horizon to a victory in the 2008 Washington Oaks.
Nominations for the Washington Oaks (nominee, trainer, owner)
Crocodile Tuff (3-KY), Dan Markle, Sue & Tim Spooner
Ladyledue (3-WA), Bonnie Jenne, Jon W. Sather
Lucy Got Lucky (3-KY), Blaine Wright, John & Janene Maryanski
No Flies On Doodle (3-WA), Vann Belvoir, Swag Stables
Point of Reference (3-WA), Frank Lucarelli, Ivor & Jack Jones
Seeking Ema (3-KY), Doris Harwood, Northwest Farms LLC
Where I Belong (3-KY), Doris Harwood, Coal Creek Farm
