GQ SAYS…

Trainer / Jockey (Preakness Mounts W-P-S): D. Wayne Lukas / Luis Saez (2:0-1-0)

Last Race (Finish): Kentucky Oaks (1^st)

Morning Line Odds: 9-2

Trying not to break my arm while patting myself on the back for having this filly as my top pick in the KY Oaks. The reasoning was her admirable third-place effort in the Arkansas Derby when facing the boys for the first time.

Secret Oath has won five of eight in her career and nearly $1.3 million in her career. That includes a pair of graded stakes wins in her career as well as that third-place finish in Arkansas.

She was bothered at the break of the Arkansas Derby which compromised getting a more forwardly placed position but made a huge middle move while wide on the turn then flattened out late to get nipped for the runner-up spot. That day she proved she could compete against her male counterparts, but I do not think that is the case in the Preakness.

I’ve never been a fan of fillies racing on such a quick turnaround (i.e. 2 weeks since the Oaks). Swiss Skydiver won the Preakness after her third-place finish in the Oaks BUT that was on 4 weeks rest thanks to the “COVID-delayed” Oaks in September and Preakness in October. Then there’s Rachel Alexandra who completed the Oaks-Preakness Double in 2009. She romped by 20 lengths in the Oaks, then 2 weeks later was all out to hold off Mine That Bird. Let’s not kid ourselves, Secret Oath is a nice filly, but she’s no Rachel Alexandra. I’ll take a stand against her here at short odds.