For many connections, having a horse run in the Kentucky Derby (G1) or Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, the owners of Oaks entrant Meaning, have made it back to Louisville, Ky., one year after running second in the Derby with Journalism as part of a larger group of partners. They purchased the filly out of the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $440,000 from Stonehaven Steadings, who bred Meaning.
"It's great to be a part of a nice filly like Meaning," George Isaacs of Bridlewood Farm said. "She's been special from Day 1. I like our post. There's plenty of speed on the inside. We just hope for a good trip. If we break well and the speed is on the inside, we'll be able to have a tactical trip."
The 3-year-old daughter of Gun Runner is 2-for-2 this year. First out, she scored in the Las Virgenes Stakes, which set her up for the Santa Anita Oaks (G2), which she took by 2 lengths. She is 3-for-4 lifetime; her only career loss came in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar, where she finished fourth after a troubled trip. Meaning is trained by Michael McCarthy, who also trains Journalism. In the field of 14, Meaning drew post 5 and is the second choice in the field at 5-1.
Video: Santa Anita Oaks presented by Surfside (G2)
"We had a little troubled trip in the Breeders' Cup but aside from that, she's been pretty flawless," Isaacs said. "Hopefully, she stays out of trouble, and we're good enough. We're super excited to be here, and there are five or six fillies that we think any one of them could win, and I think we're one of them, so just super excited."
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners has come close to Oaks glory before with Nest, whom it owned with Repole Stable and Michael House. After she won the 2022 Ashland Stakes (G1), she entered the Oaks as the favorite but finished second behind the D. Wayne Lukas-trained filly Secret Oath. While Nest took the owners on a wonderful Oaks journey, this time around Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners is looking for one better with Meaning.
Last year, Bridlewood and Eclipse were part of an ownership group that brought Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Journalism into the Kentucky Derby as the post-time favorite. He ran a valiant second to Sovereignty and followed that up with wins in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1). While the connections are focused on Meaning this weekend, they shared that Journalism is being pointed toward the June 6 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
