Freydis the Red notches mild upset in Dueling Grounds Oaks

It was a mild surprise when it was Freydis the Red who emerged from the pack to power clear for a 2 3/4-length win in the $1 million Dueling Grounds Oaks on Sunday at Kentucky Downs. The filly was sent away as the fourth choice in the full field of 12 3-year-old fillies, and returned $17.64 for her first career stakes victory.

Count trainer Ken McPeek among those unsurprised that Freydis the Red thrived at this 1 5/16-mile marathon, though.

"I wasn't surprised a bit," said McPeek, who trains the French-born daughter of Saxon Warrior for Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm. "I think her last race [a third in the Grade 3 Pucker Up last month at Ellis Park], we probably woulda, coulda, shoulda won it. We felt the added distance in this one would benefit her. She is the consummate professsional. We felt pretty comfortable she would handle the distance. Looking at the past performances going in, I thought the odds were very generous. Knowing her pedigree, I knew she would be capable."

It took six efforts for Freydis the Red to break her maiden, which she did in May at Churchill Downs. She subsequently finished fifth in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks, and then third in the Pucker Up. She headed to Kentucky Downs in pursuit of a third victory in the Dueling Grounds Oaks for McPeek.

Callie's Grit was away sharply from the inside and led the full field of 12 early, opening up six lengths down the backstretch through an opening half-mile in 47.25 seconds on the turf rated firm. At that point, Freydis the Red and Brian Hernandez Jr. were seventh, and a little more than nine lengths off the leader, with about 15 lengths covering the strung-out field.

:: Bet with the Best! Get Free DRF PPs and Cashback when you wager. Join DRF Bets.

The group began to reel Callie's Grit in around the sweeping far turn - her length was cut to 2 1/2 lengths through six furlongs in 1:11.45 - but the filly persisted into the stretch before wilting. Flashy Gem, who had been in a good tracking spot throughout, set upon her first, but Hernandez had his filly driving five wide, with Sabalenka closing nearly in tandem even farther outside. Freydis the Red swept to the front and quickly opened up midstretch, continuing on stoutly to the wire.

Aided by the brisk early splits, Freydis the Red finished the 1 5/16 miles in a course-record 2:06.13.

Sabalenka was a clear second, 2 3/4 lengths clear of Flashy Gem, who held third by a neck over Last Call. They were followed, in order, by Allamericanbeauty, Sun Bee, Mrs. Astor, favored Safeen, who was third after a mile before beating a retreat, the fading Callie's Grit, Soft Talk, Milagre Do Sol, and Selenaia.

McPeek said Freydis the Red is likely to next target the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in October at Keeneland.

*** Saratoga Flash ($18.92) was a front-running victor under Edgard Zayas, kicking clear in the stretch for a dominant victory in the $500,000 National Thoroughbred League Handicap to close out the card on Sunday evening at Kentucky Downs.
The creation of the National Thoroughbred League was announced earlier this year, with the ultimate intent to buy horses and stage restricted stakes races at venues around the country. The concept, for now, came to fruition with Sunday's one-mile race at Kentucky Downs, where riders wore the silks of the League's teams, but the horses raced for their current ownership. Saratoga Flash, who is owned by Dailey Double Racing, raced in the colors of the New Jersey Racing Club.
Saratoga Flash, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., has now won six of 19 career starts. The 5-year-old New York-bred gelding by Laoban was second in the Mr. Steele Stakes earlier this year at Gulfstream.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.