Oaklawn Park created the $250,000 Matron Stakes to enhance its program for older female sprinters with the hope of earning graded status quickly.
So far, so good.
The inaugural running March 31 lured a short but talented field, including grade 1 winner Matareya for trainer Brad Cox, multiple grade 2 winner Wicked Halo for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, and grade 3 winner Pretty Birdie for trainer Norm Casse. Probable post time for the six-furlong Matron, which anchors a 10-race card, is 4:58 p.m. CT.
Winner of the Beaumont Stakes (G3), Eight Belles Stakes (G2), and Acorn Stakes (G1) in longer one-turn races last year at 3, Godolphin's Matareya returns to action for the first time since running third in the seven-furlong Test Stakes (G1) last summer at Saratoga Race Course.
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A supplemental nominee, the Matron is Matareya's expected bridge to the $750,000 Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares at seven furlongs May 6 at Churchill Downs, Cox said. The Matron will be Matareya's first start against older horses.
Flavien Prat rides.
"She's training amazing," Cox said of Matareya, who has been stabled this winter and early spring at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. "Three-quarters is probably not her cup of tea, but this is a great spot to get her started. It's a prep for what we're hoping will be Kentucky Derby Day in the Derby City Distaff."
Program favorite Wicked Halo also returns from a layoff after most recently finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at seven furlongs Nov. 5 at Keeneland.
Sandwiched by a third-place finish behind Matareya and Pretty Birdie in the Eight Belles and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Wicked Halo won four consecutive starts, including the Prioress Stakes (G2) at six furlongs Sept. 2 at Saratoga and the $350,000 Raven Run Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs Oct. 22 at Keeneland.
After winning the Purple Martin, the speedy Pretty Birdie returned to Oaklawn to win the Poinsettia Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs Dec. 17 and ran second to Yuugiri in a sloppy renewal of the Carousel Stakes at six furlongs Feb. 25 in her last start.
Yuugiri is skipping the Matron in favor of the Madison Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares at seven furlongs April 8 at Keeneland.
"With Pretty Birdie, we have a fitness edge over two really nice fillies," Casse said, referring to Matareya and Wicked Halo. "But probably more importantly is tactically and race-shape wise, I think we're at a bit of an advantage. I feel like both of those horses are better suited going a little longer. Personally, I think Pretty Birdie is sitting on a really big race. We're going to go over there pretty confident."
Pretty Birdie was beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Yuugiri over a sloppy surface after setting fractions of :21.41 for the opening quarter and :44.97 for a half-mile. Pretty Birdie won the Purple Martin and Poinsettia in gate-to-wire fashion.
"I just feel like she really likes Oaklawn Park," Casse said of Pretty Birdie. "I feel like the last race against Yuugiri, I'm not so sure she likes an off track as much as a fast main track. We set some serious fractions in the last race. I don't know if we're going to have to do that this go round."
The Matron, which drew seven runners, will be reduced by at least one. Teddy's Barino did not make the trip from California and will be scratched according to Oaklawn publicity.
Oaklawn Park, Friday, March 31, 2023, Race 9Entries: Matron S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1I'm the Boss of Me (KY) Francisco Arrieta 117 Greg Compton 15/1 2 2Matareya (KY) Flavien Prat 117 Brad H. Cox 5/2 3 3Pretty Birdie (KY) David Cabrera 124 Norm W. Casse 7/2 4 4Dealing Justice (KY) Isaac Castillo 124 Riley Mott 15/1 5 5Teddy's Barino (CA) Lanfranco Dettori 121 Mark Glatt 7/2 6 6Wicked Halo (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 117 Steven M. Asmussen 2/1 7 7Samurai Charm (KY) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 117 Peter Miller 10/1
