SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Laurelin remained perfect in five career starts and earned her first graded stakes victory in the process when rallying to a decisive 1 3/4-length victory over Evershed and four other 3-year-old fillies in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational.
Laurelin, a 3-year-old Irish bred daughter of Zarak trained by Graham Motion, entered the Saratoga Oaks having won three consecutive stakes, all at a mile, including the Penn Oaks over a yielding course at Penn National six weeks earlier. Motion had originally considered sending Laurelin to Ascot to compete in the Coronation Stakes during the spring but opted instead to take a more conservative route before putting in against graded stakes competition for the first time here Saturday.
Kendrick Carmouche, who had guided Laurelin to her first three career victories, was back aboard for the Saratoga Oaks and placed the undefeated filly in perfect striking position, about three lengths off the pace-setting Totally Justified, in the run down the backstretch. Laurelin commenced her bid three wide around the second bend, readily overtook the leaders under vigorous handling through the furlong grounds, quickly edged clear, and was never seriously menaced thereafter.
Evershed raced just inside the ultimate winner during the early stages, continued to save ground around the final turn, eased out for the stretch run, and rallied mildly to be second best. Opulent Restraint, the 7-5 favorite, was taken in hand to stalk the early leader from the outset, before gaining a short advantage in early stretch, but could not resist the winner when challenged and gradually weakened.
Go Go Boots, making her U.S. debut, was snugged near the rear of the compact field, rallied through midstretch to within a striking position when roused, then lost a possible chance at a graded stakes placing after appearing to take an awkward step nearing the wire. She was pulled up immediately after the race and vanned off with what her trainer, Miguel Clement, said were lacerations likely sustained from an incident that occurred at some point during the running of the race.
Laurelin is owned by Newstead Stables LLC and completed the 1 3/16 miles over a firm course in 1:52.60 seconds and paid $6.40.
“The race kind of set up the way Kendrick thought it would,” said Motion by phone from Colonial Downs minutes after the race. “To be honest, watching the race, I felt pretty confident the whole way. I thought she was in a perfect spot. I didn’t think distance would be an issue and it was not. It would appear the farther the better for her. Maybe the only thing that is surprising is how well she did at a mile in her previous races.”
Motion said he can’t remember having a horse who began its career going 5 for 5, let alone one having done so at the level Laurelin has achieved her success to date.
“She’s been phenomenal right from the start. To go 5 for 5, everything has to go right,” Motion said. “She hasn’t done anything wrong in her other races but this has to be her best performance coming in a Grade 2.”
Motion said the Grade 1 QE II at Keeneland on Oct. 11 would be the next major goal for Laurelin.
“I’d love to run her in the QE II. Whether we run her once before that remains to be seen,” Motion noted.
- additonal reporting by David Grening
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