Freshened Southlawn starts over in CCA Oaks
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Based on her two victories to begin the year, including an eye-catching 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, Southlawn was sent off the second choice in the 14-horse Kentucky Oaks field in May.
After checking off heels entering the first turn and then racing five wide throughout, Southlawn was basically done by the top of the stretch, finishing 10th, 10 1/4 lengths behind Pretty Mischievous and Gambling Girl, who were a neck apart at the wire.
After a freshening, Southlawn returns to the races in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. Southlawn was one of six 3-year-old fillies entered in the 1 1/8-mile race that serves as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Alabama on Aug. 19.
Trainer Norm Casse said the break between the Kentucky Oaks and CCA Oaks was by design.
“We just felt like she had a tough trip in the Oaks, was never really in any type of position to win,” Casse said. “The plan was always to bring her to Saratoga fresh, so we gave her a bit of a freshening with the CCA Oaks as the target race back. She has worked really well and fires fresh so we expect her to run well.”
Though Reylu Gutierrez has ridden Southlawn in all three of her starts this year, Florent Geroux will ride Southlawn on Saturday.
“We just decided we wanted somebody who is based in Saratoga and who rides here regularly,” Casse said. “He worked her on Saturday and seemed to get along with her very well.”
Southlawn worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds last Saturday over the Saratoga main track.
The CCA Oaks was expected to include Kentucky Oaks runner-up Gambling Girl, beaten Oaks favorite Wet Paint, Hoosier Philly, Sacred Wish, and She’s Lookin Lucky.
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