2024.12.22 Oaklawn Racing Update

Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024

Compiled by Robert Yates

Quietside, one of the country’s leading 2-year-old fillies, will make her 3-year-old debut in the $300,000 Martha Washington Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 25 at Oaklawn, trainer John Ortiz said Sunday morning.

The Martha Washington is Oaklawn’s first of three qualifying races for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), which is the country’s biggest prize for 3-year-old fillies. The Martha Washington carries a record purse in 2025 after previously being worth $250,000.

A homebred for Arkansas-based Shortleaf Stable (John Ed Anthony), Quietside is now training at Oaklawn after completing her 2-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish in the $400,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs. Quietside was beaten 2 ½ lengths by Good Cheer, who surged to the lead late on the second turn.

“Quietside’s doing fantastic,” Ortiz said. “She came back out of that race in great shape. Looking a little bit more tight and fit. She’s really developing into her 3-year-old body. So, we’re excited about it.”

The Golden Rod was Quietside’s fourth career start. The daughter of Malibu Moon won her Aug. 4 career debut at Saratoga by 6 ¼ lengths, then finished second behind division leader Immersive in the $300,000 Spinaway Stakes (G1) Aug. 31 at Saratoga. Quietside, in her two-turn debut, finished third behind Immersive in the $600,000 Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 4 at Keeneland.

Quietside earned a career-high 86 Equibase Speed Figure in the Golden Rod, which was run over a fast track. Immersive and Good Cheer – both unbeaten – are part of trainer Brad Cox’s deep roster of 2-year-old fillies.

“When that horse (Good Cheer) went by her, you thought, ‘Shoot,’ but then Quietside came back,” said John Gasper, Anthony’s racing manager. “She beat the third horse six lengths. I told John Ed: ‘She ran a really good number (speed figure).’ She ran hard. She gives you what she’s got every time.”

The Martha Washington will offer 42 total points (20-10-6-4-2, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks. Quietside, based on her finishes in the Alcibiades and Golden Rod, has already collected eight points.

Oaklawn’s Kentucky Oaks prep series continues with the $500,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) Feb. 22 and the $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) March 29. Both races are 1 1/16 miles.

Thorpedo Anna swept the Fantasy and Kentucky Oaks in 2024.

Finish Lines

Yes Ma’am, a half-sister to 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, is scheduled to make her career debut in the seventh race Dec. 29 at Oaklawn, a $110,000 maiden special weight sprint for 2-year-old fillies. John Ortiz trains Yes Ma’am for the same Arkansas-bred connections – Lance Gasaway, Brent and Sharilyn Gasaway and Banks Hamby – as Mystik Dan. The Dec. 29 card is exclusively for 2-year-olds. … After pondering a trip to the Middle East, Happy Is a Choice will remain at Oaklawn and point for the six-furlong $150,000 King Cotton Stakes for older horses Jan. 25, Ortiz said Sunday morning. Happy Is a Choice won the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes Dec. 7 in his last start. … Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen notched his record-extending 951st career Oaklawn victory in Saturday’s first race with Riyadh Moon ($11), a 3-year-old Malibu Moon gelding who was ridden by his son, Keith Asmussen. … Jockey Francisco Arrieta recorded his 996th career North American victory aboard Chrome’s Echo ($61.20) in Saturday’s 10th race at Oaklawn, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. … Spirit Wind emerged in good order from her three-quarter length victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes, Alexa Gerstel, who oversees trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s Oaklawn division, said Sunday morning. “She’s doing great,” Gerstel said. “Ready to run again.” The Florida-based Joseph, who has a string at Oaklawn for the first time this season, said immediately following the Poinsettia that he was inclined to keep Spirit Wind in Arkansas and aim for Oaklawn’s stakes series for older female sprinters. … Oaklawn’s track will be closed for training Wednesday in observance of Christmas.