SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - An illness during the winter prevented Scottish Lassie from getting on the Kentucky Oaks trail this spring, but the filly returned to her Grade 1 winning form this summer with hopes of still better things to come this fall.
Scottish Lassie romped to a 15 1/2-length victory in the scratch-reduced field of four in Saturday’s Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. Under Joel Rosario, she went gate to wire in the race, leaving Immersive, the 2-year-old filly champion of 2024, and two others in her wake.
Trainer Jorge Abreu said Sunday morning that all is well with Scottish Lassie, but also said he would wait at least a week before deciding where next to run. The options are the Grade 1 Alabama here on Aug. 16, or the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing on Sept. 20. The goal later in the year is the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Abreu said he is a big proponent of giving horses ample time between races, which is why he said Sunday morning he is inclined to wait for the Cotillion, but wants to see the filly back on the track before setting any plans in stone. Scottish Lassie earned a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure for the Coaching Club.
“I don’t want to kill her to run in the Alabama just to prove a point and not have a horse for the rest of the year because she’s just starting to get good,” Abreu said Sunday. “I’m going to give her a good week and see; if I like what I see, we’ll go to the Alabama, if not, just wait for the Cotillion.”
Scottish Lassie finished third in her career debut last September at Saratoga and came back five weeks later to win the Grade 1 Frizette at Aqueduct by nine lengths. In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Scottish Lassie was beaten seven lengths by Immersive.
Abreu and his many partners in Scottish Lassie wanted to get on the Kentucky Oaks trail this winter at Gulfstream, but the filly developed a throat infection that put her out of training for a month. After her first work back from a break, the throat infection reappeared, definitely knocking Scottish Lassie off the Oaks trail.
She finally made it back to the races on May 1, but was used up in a speed duel in an allowance race and finished third. Scottish Lassie tried the Grade 1 Acorn, but had to settle for third behind La Cara in a race run over a sloppy track.
Scottish Lassie was set to face La Cara again on Saturday, but La Cara had to scratch because the barn she is stabled in was placed under a precautionary quarantine due to a different horse in that barn having shown symptoms of strangles.
La Cara, trainer Mark Casse said, will likely train up to the Alabama, a race in which he also plans to run the multiple stakes-winning Nitrogen.
Immersive, who finished a flat second in the Coaching Club, is not expected back for the Alabama, but her Godolphin-owned, Brad Cox-trained stablemate Good Cheer, the Kentucky Oaks winner, is expected to start. Good Cheer, who won her first seven starts, finished fifth of six in the Acorn here on June 5.
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