August 22, 2016
There were a lot of logical fillies in the Grade III MTH Oaks who could have stepped up and really taken the mantle but current form proved best for Neonatalist and fresh off the claim, the daughter of Necropolitan came up with the goods to record her fourth win in a row. Taken for $50.000 by Angelos Stable, she dropped back in the middle stages but came on with a big rally down the lane and has now earned more than $100.000 this year with four wins and two seconds in only six starts to date.
True To Form (6.45) was quickest into stride at the start of the MTH Oaks but Aldonza (1.80) sprinted forward to establish the lead with Looknlisten (7.65) sitting nicely along the rail. Golden Horn (146.65) was floated four-wide by Neonatalist (9.00) as Seventh League (14.10) and Effortless Admiral (*1.45) took to the back of the pack and as the field moved to the backstretch, the leader was clear by more than a length. An opening split of 23.71 saw a shuffling of positions as Looknlisten moved into second from Golden Horn with Seventh League moving up and through the half-mile in 47.48, Aldonza was still using her back class to full effect. Everyone held their own around the far turn, giving the utmost respect to the leader, but the fractions were quite quick and six-furlongs in 1:11.08 put the backfield into motion by the head of the lane. Neonatalist found her second wind between rivals as Effortless Admiral came wide but with a furlong to run, Aldonza was still two-lengths to the good and driving home. In the end, the only threat came from Neonatalist and after finding room, she brushed to the lead and won by more than a length, with Aldonza just hanging on for second over Looknlisten with Golden Horn sticking around for fourth. Effortless Admiral failed to menace in fifth, Seventh League came too wide in six and True To Form backed away to finish last in a closely knit group behind the winner.
Neonatalist came into the MTH Oaks off three big wins for her old connections but fired fresh off the claim to earn back her $50.000 price and score her sixth win in only 10 career starts. There are not really a lot of options for three-year-old fillies against their own age but a start in the RP Oaks seems logical for an improving type who might get some class relief, with the best headed to PRX for the Grade I Cotillion Stakes.
Congratulations goes out to owner Angelos Stable and their three-year-old filly Neonatalist, a going away winner of the Grade III MTH Oaks!
Prediction Effortless Admiral / True To Form / Aldonza
Winner Neonatalist
Three-year-old bay filly
Necropolitan-Ice Cubed (Auto-Generated)
Owner Angelos Stable
Time 23.71, 47.48, 1:11.08, 1:42.10
Overall
Neonatalist 9.00 dropped back early, found room, driving
Aldonza 1.80 cleared to lead, challenged, held second
Looknlisten 7.65 inside run, minor late rally
Golden Horn 146.65 even effort
Effortless Admiral *1.45 wide into stretch, flat
Seventh League 14.10 wide both turns
True To Form 6.45 no late threat
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
