The MTH Oaks – (Grade lll)

Purse $150.00 – For Fillies Three Years Old

1 1/16 Miles – Dirt

Monmouth Park – July 25, 2026

After a forgettable performance in her previous start, Noemi returned to top form with a victory in the 21st edition of The MTH Oaks! This was her second time going around two turns after running against state-breds last year. The daughter of Bold Ruler made every pole a winning one and stopped the clock for the 1 1/16-miles in 1:42.21, only .8 seconds off last year’s running. Noemi also increased her lifetime earnings to $344.00 in eight career starts. What a weekend for Maxmillion Farm—capturing three graded stakes on Saturday from coast to coast. This was his first time winning The MTH Oaks, as well as jockey Charlie Marquez. After this victory, I would assume the connections would keep this filly around two turns. I’m sure wherever we’ll see this Florida-bred next, she’ll be ready to fire a big one. Congratulations to Maxmillion Farm on a fantastic weekend and another graded stakes victory with this front-running performance!

Winner: Noemi – (Maxmillion Farm, Ch. Marquez) This filly broke very well from the gate and jockey Charlie Marquez got her to run on the lead two wide rounding the first turn. She set early fractions of 23.89, 47.83, and 1:11.95. Noemi had a one-length advantage going down the backside, traveling comfortably. Things started to get interesting as the field reached the far turn with rivals starting to launch their bids from behind. This three-year-old continued to kick away passing the quarter pole, keeping her one-length lead. Noemi drifted out a touch running down the stretch, but she still found the wire in time with rivals closing fast behind her. Excellent work!

Second Place: State Of Hope – (Alydar Stables, C. Sutherland) For her second time running on the dirt in her career, the homebred for Alydar Stables put together a fantastic effort. Jockey Chantal Sutherland did a good job out of the gate getting State Of Hope to save ground down on the rail, racing two wide. She continued to inch closer and closer to the leaders down the backside in fifth about three lengths off the speed. The daughter of State Of Fury didn’t have a choice but to move out four wide passing the 5/16 to start launching her bid. She made up significant ground closing like a freight train down the stretch and ultimately fell short by a neck. What a great performance!

Third Place: Cappelletti – (D J C Racing Stables, F. Jara) Came into this race as the most lightly raced filly in the field. She has a lot of experience around a route of ground, which was extremely helpful. Cappelletti broke from the gate and immediately held her position on the rail racing into the first turn. She settled a length off Noemi down the backstretch, just off her left hip. There really wasn’t any change rounding the far turn as this California-bred continued to race evenly on the rail. Cappelletti started to make up ground on the eventual winner inside the final furlong, but she just ran out of time and finished third. She will definitely build on this effort throughout the 2026 season.

Fourth Place: Boardwalk Freak – (Noblepark, J A. Gomez) The stretch-running specialist didn’t fool anyone this start as she dropped to the back of the field out of the gate. The good thing was Boardwalk Freak raced on the rail three lengths back and saved all the ground down the backside. She got in a good rhythm as jockey Jose Antonio Gomez was praying for a fast pace on the front end. Nothing changed with this filly until she reached the quarter pole and was ready to start unleashing her devastating turn of foot. A clear running lane didn’t open up until the final furlong, so Boardwalk Freak had limited time to close. The best she could do was fourth. Not bad at all.

– AJM

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES