Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath will take on Preakness in Baltimore

Secret Oath will attempt to be a part of Swiss Skydiver and Rachel Alexandra as fillies to win the Preakness within the twenty first Century.

Preakness officers confirmed Wednesday afternoon Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath will compete within the second leg of the Triple Crown on Might 21 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

After Secret Oath’s 2-length victory within the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, coach D. Wayne Lukas indicated the Preakness was on the radar. Since then, Lukas has been happy with Secret Oath’s work at Churchill Downs.

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“We agonize over it,” Lukas stated Wednesday morning. “She’s gone again to the observe, and she or he was very sharp on the market at present. I don’t see something about her that will change our determination proper now (concerning the Preakness). … She’s coaching nicely. She’s shiny. She’s sharp and on the market taking part in.”

The Preakness could be Secret Oath’s second race this 12 months in opposition to male opponents. She completed third behind Cyberknife and Barber Street within the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 2 at Oaklawn Park. 

The draw for the Preakness is ready for Monday, and the highest 4 finishers within the Kentucky Derby are anticipated to enter — Wealthy Strike, Epicenter, Zandon and Simplification. Early Voting, who was certified for the Kentucky Derby however skipped the race, additionally is anticipated to enter. 

Lukas expects Secret Oath to be brisker than those that competed within the Derby.

“The Derby horses just about all had a tough race,” Lukas stated. “(Secret Oath’s) race was not exhausting on her. Now, you sit again and say, ‘Epicenter goes to be the favourite. Chad Brown is placing (Early Voting) in.’ What I at all times did on these is, I checklist all of the horses going and say, ‘Can I beat this one?’ Sure. ‘Can I beat that one?’ Perhaps. Go proper down the road. However I nonetheless don’t know who’s going.

“Epicenter can be troublesome. He’s a respectable favourite. He’s an excellent horse. No person can go over there and suppose they’ll simply run by him. He’s going to be awfully powerful to beat. You take a shot when you take him on. The opposite factor that at all times elements in is that when they’re actually good like (Secret Oath) is correct now, you benefit from that second, that time-frame.”

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Six fillies have gained the Preakness, most not too long ago Swiss Skydiver in 2020. The others had been Rachel Alexandra (2009), Nellie Morse (1924), Rhine Maiden (1915), Whimsical (1906) and Flocarline (1903).

Lukas stated Ethereal Street, who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby a day earlier than the race, possible will skip the Preakness and run as an alternative within the $100,000 Sir Barton for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the undercard.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.