The Martha Washington (KYO)- $300.000 Purse
OP- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
January 25, 2025

This weekend will have one big race for the KYO, as the 15th running of the Martha Washington takes place at OP. This is not a graded race, but that doesn’t keep it from offering 20 valuable KYO points for its race winner. The $300.000 that is offered is a new high for the race, topping the $250.000 from last year and a far cry from the $50.000 that was at stake when the race first appeared on the calendar. Last year, Hobo Blues picked up the Martha Washington victory for Alydar Stables, but she would not make it to CD for the KYO. No worries, as she continued to run well and later would run in the BC Distaff. She’s still active but has been idle since that race. We have twelve running this year following one early scratch. Let’s meet the field now:

1- Rogers Schnapps (Rock Creek, ridden by F Prat)- Looking to rebound following a poor performance in late November in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at CD. She was entered into that off of breaking her maiden at FE but was outclassed. Now, with a little more time, the trainer shows that he still believes in his filly by running her here while putting Prat right back in the saddle. Will it be redemption time for her?

2- Twizted Tea (Asgar, ridden by M E Smith)- A strong two-year-old season that saw her win the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes at DMR and run second in the Grade 1 Frizette allowed her to take part in the BC Juvenile Fillies. She ran in the middle of the back there, losing by just two lengths and has been resting ever since. She’s fresh and ready to go here and perhaps can turn the table on a recent nemesis of hers, Solilioquy Sunset.

3- Locked In (Mb Stables, ridden by R L Moore)- So far, so good for this filly, as she is two for three to this point in her career. After breaking her maiden at ALB, she would head north of the border for the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes and was third of five. Remaining at WO, she took on fellow Canadians in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes and beat them all. Taking on an unrestricted field of this stature is something she has not done yet, so a great opportunity for her.

4- Cam Code (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by A Beschizza)- Won on debut in early April, and has been chasing her next win ever since. A healthy diet of ungraded stakes has followed, and she has had some positive moments in them, but may also be a little underwhelming up to this point. Made her graded debut in the Golden Rod last time out and placed fifth for the third time in seven races.

5- Soliloquy Sunset (Nakamura Stables, ridden by A A Gallardo)- Absolutely perfect up to this point for the Nakamura Stables filly. In five starts, she has visited the winner’s circle every time, a stretch that included the DMR Debutante and the Frizette before leading into the BC Juvenile Fillies. That’s three Grade 1’s for her thus far, so clearly, she is the favorite for the KYO right now. But it is still early in that chase, and Soliloquy Sunset will begin her three-year-old season looking to sustain that level of success. The favorite here, but her competition will make her earn it.

6- Lucille (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- After breaking her maiden, Lucille was moved to the grass and immediately picked up a massive win on the turf, coming in the $750.000 KD Juvenile Fillies. She’d follow that up beautifully in the Grade 2 Jessamine, and even though she was 21/1 in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, she seemed like she could provide some massive payouts at that price. However, she did not run well there. It was back to the dirt, and to the winner’s circle afterwards, coming in the Grade 2 Demoiselle. Lucille is getting it done and now has her first shot at Soliloquy Sunset.

7- Confident Elegance (Wood Duck Stables, ridden by P Lopez)- This filly has won four out of five, and heads into the Martha Washington following a three length win at the $100.000 LCD Lassie. Now, Confident Elegance is going to go long for the first time, and I do feel good about her ability to get the distance without much trouble. The bigger issue is that she has to do that while in the starting gate with some great fillies, but she has certainly earned the chance and figures to get more over the next few months.

8- Chilukki (Pan Farms, ridden by F T Alvarado)- Picked up by the trainer for $337.500 in a July private sale from Fractious, about six weeks after breaking her maiden. Pan Farms didn’t rush things with his new addition, and entered her for the first time in October, at the $250.000 Myrtlewood at KEE. Ran third there, then followed that up with a second-place effort, just missing out in a photo at the wire in the Grade 2 Golden Rod.

9- Creepy Runner Party (Mb Stables, ridden by M Franco)- This race just missed having the distinction of featuring both the winner of the BC Juvenile Fillies and the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf. Creepy Runner Party almost won the latter but had to settle for second in a tight photo at the wire. For as much as Mb Stables has done, he also does not have a shortage of hard luck close seconds in some of the biggest races, too. The filly got there by winning the Grade 1 Natalma. After the BC, it was off to the dirt for the Golden Rod, where she ran third. Strong mile worker on the dirt, so she’ll be one to watch as we proceed with the KYO chase.

10- Gigafemme (Big Guns Stables, ridden by P Husbands)- She has been a regular on the NY-bred circuit, with five of her six starts coming with that condition. Two were maidens, and once that was in the bag, she moved into stakes and was competitive right from the start. Ultimately, she would get that stake win, coming for a big $500.000 purse last month in the Fifth Avenue at AQU with a come from behind effort. Now, it’s time to leave the Empire State to see what she can do on the KYO trail.

11- Melting Shadows (Jokerjoes, ridden by R M Hernandez)- This filly knows how to get it done, with four wins over seven starts. Three of her first four races were wins, including the $200.000 Seeking The Ante at SAR. Two starts after that, she picked up a graded win in the Mazarine BC Stakes (Grade 3). While she did not win her last race, she came close, running second in the Grade 2 Demoiselle to Lucille. She’s certainly making her presence felt and works very well. First time she sees Soliloquy Sunset but will not back down from her.

12- Scenic View- Scratched

13- Fluidity (Crazy Horse Racing, ridden by F Geroux)- Won on debut at MNR in September, and here she is, to make her second start. Unfortunately, public works on her are as a close to non-existent as you can be at this point, and are only at four furlongs, so it’s impossible to know how much she has been improving. Therefore, I can’t put virtual money on her at this time, and we will see on Saturday just how good she has become.

Prediction: 5-6-9-11

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded