The MTH Oaks – (Grade lll)

Purse $150.00 – For Fillies Three Years Old

1 1/16 Miles – Dirt

Monmouth Park – July 25, 2026

Don’t let the field size fool you as the 21st edition of The MTH Oaks features a competitive group of sophomore fillies this Saturday at Monmouth Park! Over the years, this race has proven to be an important stepping stone toward even richer and more prestigious stakes later in the season. Despite the purse being lowered from $250.00 to $150.00 this year, The MTH Oaks has retained its Grade Three status since its inception in 2006 while remaining at its original distance of 1 1/16 miles. Skydancer established the current stakes record two years ago with a blistering time of 1:41.57 for the 1 1/16-mile distance. Nakamura Stables enters this year’s renewal tied with Sarah Stables for the most wins by an owner with two apiece. A victory by Western Espresso would give Nakamura sole possession of the lead. The question now is which filly will seize the opportunity and add their name to this race’s distinguished honor roll? Let’s take a closer look at each contender!

1. Cappelletti – (D J C Racing Stables, F. Jara) The most lightly raced filly entered this year with only five career starts. She broke her maiden at Tampa Bay Downs earlier this year and parlayed that win with an N1X victory against a deep field. Cappelletti then made her stakes debut against state-breds in the Melair Stakes at Santa Anita. She tried to make every pole a winning one, but ended up getting nailed on the wire to finish second by a nose. Last time out, this daughter of Acapulco Bay ran in the Grade Three Selene Stakes at the 1 1/16-mile distance. She stalked just a couple lengths off the pace and only closed one length in the stretch to get fourth. Will need to show more.

2. Be Royal – (Mb Stables, F. Pennington) Class may prove to be the deciding factor as Be Royal is the only graded stakes winner entering the starting gate. She won the Pocahontas last year at Churchill Downs closing from last and ended her two-year-old season in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. The daughter of Bold Ruler has been mildly successful this year, highlighted by making the field for the Kentucky Oaks. She ran a great second in the Fair Grounds Oaks, displaying her devastating turn of foot to finish second. Connections continued to compete against Grade One company last time out and ended up running seventh in the Acorn at Saratoga. She will be a major contender in here.

3. Noemi – (Maxmillion Farm, Ch. Marquez) Privately purchased for $50.00 as a two-year-old from Wood Duck Stables. Noemi ran four times last year, which was all against state-breds down in Florida. She only finished off the board once in those races, ranging from 5½ furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. The daughter of Bold Ruler started off her 2026 season hot with a win in The Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Connections took a shot three months later and entered Noemi in the Beaumont going seven furlongs. She was well within striking distance, but was ultimately outkicked late to finish third. What’s concerning is this filly failed to fire last time out in another graded stake. Hopefully she can bounce back.

4. Boardwalk Freak – (Noblepark, J A. Gomez) I’ve always liked this California-bred as she has never finished off the board in seven career starts. Boardwalk Freak has done almost all her running this year after breaking her maiden in January. She stretched out rather quickly trying to get on the path for the Kentucky Oaks. The daughter of Boardwalk Empire finished third in three straight races, which included the Santa Ysabel Stakes, the Gazelle, and the Black-Eyed Susan. Last time out, this filly took a step back in a non-graded stake at Churchill Downs and closed from six lengths back to get second. Expect Boardwalk Freak to stick to her customary late run. She will be my top pick in here.

5. Western Espresso – (Nakamura Stables, L M. Ocasio) With four career victories to her name, Western Espresso has the most wins in the field and could deliver Nakamura Stables a record third Monmouth Oaks victory. She broke her maiden at Belterra Park by five lengths going a mile on the dirt. The daughter of Con West has continued to run around two turns since then and tried to get on the Kentucky Oaks trail. Connections entered this filly in the Sunland Oaks and Virginia Oaks, but only hit the board once. Western Espresso comes off a win by a neck against N2X company at Churchill Downs. It looks like Nakamura Stables used new tactics last time out, so she may continue to improve in here.

6. State Of Hope – (Alydar Stables, C. Sutherland) A turf filly who is coming to the dirt for the second time in her career. State Of Hope has seven lifetime starts and six of those have been on the grass. She broke her maiden by two impressive lengths on soft ground at Santa Anita. This California-bred then missed by a nose in an N2X before taking a swing in the Grade Two Edgewood on Kentucky Oaks day. She failed to fire her best effort, so connections went back into the allowance ranks. State Of Hope had her second victory last time out at Monmouth Park in a first-level allowance on the grass as the favorite. Her works have been decent on the dirt since then. She could make some noise if she takes to the main track.

– AJM

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES