Oaklawn Barn Notes: Wonder Gadot Returns Friday

By Jennifer Hoyt —-

Wonder Gadot Returns Friday

Fans can see Wonder Woman Friday at Oaklawn.

Gary Barber’s Wonder Gadot, a finalist for a Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2018, is scheduled to make her seasonal debut in Friday’s eighth race, a 1-mile allowance for older fillies and mares that trainer Mark Casse said he hopes is a stepping stone to the $750,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 14.

“That’s why she’s there, if everything goes well,” Casse said Wednesday morning.

Wonder Gadot hasn’t started since finishing ninth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. After finishing second in the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) last April at Oaklawn, Wonder Gadot finished second in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs before beating males in the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, including the $1 million Queen’s Plate June 30 at Woodbine.

“A mile is maybe just a touch on the short side for her, but given her time off and everything, I think it’s perfect,” Casse said. “It’s a good spot for us to get going. Hopefully, it leads to bigger and better things down the road, but it’s a nice beginning for the year.”

Wonder Gadot has recorded five published workouts since Jan. 7, with the last two coming at Oaklawn. Wonder Gadot breezed 5 furlongs from the gate in 1:01.40 Feb. 24.

Wonder Gadot, the 6-5 program favorite, is scheduled to break from post 6 under David Cohen in the projected seven-horse field.

A daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, who broke his maiden in 2002 at Oaklawn and won the 2003 Oaklawn Handicap, Wonder Gadot has a 5-4-4 record from 16 lifetime starts and earnings of $1,492,461. She was Canada’s champion 2-year-old filly.

Wonder Gadot is named for actress Gal Gadot, who played Wonder Woman in the 2017 superhero film of the same name.

Probable post time for Friday’s eighth race, which has an $87,000 purse, is 4:42 p.m. (Central).

Sealed With a Kiss

Grade 1 winner Eskimo Kisses will make her 4-year-old debut in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles March 16, trainer Kenny McPeek said Sunday night.

Eskimo Kisses broke her maiden and was a first-level allowance winner last year at Oaklawn before capturing the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) Aug. 18 at Saratoga. Eskimo Kisses (main track only) was scratched from the grassy $150,000 The Very One Stakes (G3) last Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

“They don’t have a stakes program down here for fillies and mares going two turns,” McPeek said. “It will be good to come back.”

Eskimo Kisses hasn’t started since finishing seventh in the $500,000 Spinster Stakes (G1) Oct. 7 at Keeneland. The Azeri is the final major local prep for the $750,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at 1 1/16 miles April 14.

“This is going to tell us whether she deserves to be in the Apple Blossom,” McPeek said. “If she doesn’t run well in the Azeri, then we’ve got a couple of other options.”

McPeek said stablemate Lemniscate may accompany Eskimo Kisses on her trip to Arkansas. Lemniscate broke his maiden by a length in a 1 1/16-mile turf race Sunday at Gulfstream Park and could be wheeled back in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds March 16 at 1 1/16 miles. Lemniscate made his first two career starts sprinting on dirt at Gulfstream Park, finishing fourth Jan. 19 and second Feb. 9.

“He’s a good horse,” McPeek said. “He’s a horse that’s fast and he’s been a workmate of Signalman and handled the company real well. Might be one that sneaks in late.”

The McPeek-trained Signalman finished third in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs before winning the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs.

Nominations to the Azeri and Rebel close Thursday.

The Leaders

Through Sunday, the 23rd day of the scheduled 57-day meeting, familiar names topped the jockey, trainer and owner standings.

Six-time defending champion Ricardo Santana Jr. held a 30-27 lead over David Cohen for top jockey. Santana also topped all riders in purse earnings ($1,442,897).

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen led all trainers with 21 victories, six more than Robertino Diodoro.

Asmussen is seeking his fourth consecutive local title and 10th since 2007. Asmussen was also No. 1 in purse earnings ($1,407,754).

M and M Racing (Mike and Mickala Sisk) led all owners with 22 victories. Danny Caldwell, Oaklawn’s leading owner in 2014-2017, was second with 12. M and M was also No. 1 in purse earnings ($601,992). M and M won 21 races last year at Oaklawn to capture its first career owner’s title and is nearing its purse earnings from the 2018 meet ($671,919).

Finish Lines

Our Braintrust, third in the $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) Feb 2 at Aqueduct, is being pointed for the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds March 16, trainer Mark Casse said Wednesday morning. The 1 1/16-mile Rebel is the final major local prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 13. … Favored Mia Mischief ($3.20) represented jockey Ricardo Santana Jr.’s 496th career victory for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen in Sunday’s sixth race, an allowance sprint for older fillies and mares. Mia Mischief, who won the $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes last year at Oaklawn, was making her first start since finishing ninth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. … Grade 3 winner Warrior’s Club finished second in Sunday’s eighth race, a 1-mile allowance for older horses, in his 2019 debut Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. A multiple Oaklawn allowance winner, Warrior’s Club was making his first start since finishing eighth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. … Post positions were to be drawn Wednesday for Saturday’s $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies and $150,000 Hot Springs Stakes for older sprinters. … Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Ministry is training at Oaklawn, owner Linda Robbins said Sunday morning, with the hope of running before the meeting ends May 4. Ministry is unraced since June because of a leg problem. … Through Sunday, the 23rd day of the scheduled 57-day meeting, 226 claims had totaled $3,613,500.