The MTH Oaks (Grade 3)- $250.000 Purse
MTH- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
July 29, 2023

It was not a nice day out at many tracks across the northeast, and MTH was right in the thick of the bad weather on this day. Soaking rains left the track sloppy, but that would certainly not dampen the spirits of anyone who bet on the winner, Mo Temptation, as the D J C Racing Stables filly lit up the tote board at odds of 73/1. Like most of those betting public, we did not have the filly as one of our picks, but you could see where the potential was with her to pull this off. In her first six starts, she has only gone a mile once in her career, and with the addition of Lasix, she had been running a little better than she was previously. It may have been easier to pick Mo Temptation if recent mile works were present, but we did not have them publicly. It’s safe to say now that the right decision was made, and we congratulate D J C Racing Stables on his big win, which is his first in the MTH Oaks. That is also true for the rider, S Elliott. The race winning time in the slop was 1:47.95. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.73)- In the early stages of the race, it would be Avengement going out to the lead for Axeman, leading by about a half-length down the front stretch before opening up more in the turn, to a little more than a length. Chai Mom, out of Riggins Racing, holds the second spot by a head over Blind Appeal, as the Nakamura Stables entry rides the rail. Smokey Stover’s Shadow State is positioned right between them, and a half length behind them. Running four wide here is our eventual winner Mo Temptation, for D J C Racing Stables. After her, we have about a two-length gap to the rest of the field. Calm Fury (Mb Stables) has a neck in front of Creepy Lady Party (Martyparty), and behind them, Victorious Secret (Acber Farms) can see them all.

(1/2 Mile- :48.38)- We move down the backstretch with Avengement still leading the way, and without much pressure on her now, with a length and a half advantage. Chai Mom is second, and she pushes in front of the other three that she had been running with. Shadow State and Blind Appeal are neck and neck for third, and on the outside, Mo Temptation is still running with this group but has not looked to make any passes as of yet. They’re single file behind them now, with Calm Fury ahead of Creepy Lady Party and Victorious Secret.

(Top of the Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Avengement remains the leader as the field completes the backstretch trip and moves around the turn, but she is beginning to feel more pressure as we get near the stretch. That heat would come from the longest shot on the board, as Mo Temptation, while running four wide pulled up to the two she had been running with and completed the pass of them. Entering the stretch, she only had Avengement to get, and she was just about even with her at this point, making her biggest concern now be another horse making a run from deep in the field. Shadow State and Chai Mom were still in the picture, and even though Mo Temptation had gotten around them, they could still have a shot at second. The one who wouldn’t would be Blind Appeal, which decided she had enough for the day. Calm Fury was running steady with the rest of the field, but the one that was lurking further back was Creepy Lady Party. She’s known for making late runs, so Mo Temptation didn’t have this race won yet. Victorious Secret, who closed beautifully in the Acorn for her last start, was getting ready to make her bid as well.

(Finish- 1:47.95)- In the stretch, it’s Mo Temptation beginning to put more distance on those that had been closer to her, but there was plenty of reason for D J C Racing Stables to be concerned, still. Both Creepy Lady Party and Victorious Secret were setting up their runs, but it would have to be five and six wide. With a furlong to go, it was looking like Mo Temptation was ahead by enough, and this filly who had not had much experience going long still had plenty left in the tank to hang on and get this victory! Victorious Secret would be the stronger of the closers, getting around Creepy Lady Party before coming up just short at the wire. Creepy Lady Party runs a game third, and it’s about a length to Calm Fury. Shadow State, the post time favorite, fell to fifth, ahead of Avengement and Chai Mom, and eventually, Blind Appeal.

About The Winner- Mo Temptation, trained by D J C Racing Stables and ridden to victory by S Elliott, is a three-year-old filly by Moment In Time and is out of Apricot Valley. She was bred in New York by her trainer as a third quarter two-year-old, and they have been together throughout! Congratulations to the connections! The win is her third in seven starts, her second stake win, and first graded win. Her career earnings are now $294.260.

Track: Sloppy
Time: :23³  :48¹  1:14¹  1:47⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 8 – 5 Paid 2,405.40
$1 Trifecta: 8 – 5 – 7 Paid 1,236.00

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES