Lukas says Secret Oath coming into Alabama strong as ever

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - D. Wayne Lukas flashed a Cheshire cat grin when asked if Secret Oath, beaten 12 1/2 lengths by Nest in the Coaching Club American Oaks four weeks ago, was feeling the effects of a long campaign.

“Get ready,” Lukas, sitting atop his stable pony on a cool Tuesday morning in Saratoga said. “The outsiders don’t train her. I’m not making any excuses; the campaign doesn’t bother me a bit.

"My whole career everybody said you can’t do this, you can’t do that. Lady’s Secret ran too much - $3 million, 11 Grade 1s - what would have happened if a trainer would have had her,” Lukas said, with a bit of self-deprecation.

Lukas has campaigned six 3-year-old filly champions during his Hall of Fame career. Secret Oath, who won the Kentucky Oaks in May, was the leader of the 3-year-old filly division this year before she was soundly beaten by Nest in the Coaching Club American Oaks. Her rematch - or more accurately rubber match - with Nest takes place Saturday in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. Secret Oath beat Nest by two lengths in the Kentucky Oaks.

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On Tuesday, Secret Oath had her final workout before the Alabama, going a half-mile in 49.02 seconds by herself over the Oklahoma training track. Under jockey Luis Saez, Secret Oath went her first quarter in 24.79 seconds, her final quarter in 24.23 and she galloped out in 1:02.30.

Secret Oath, a daughter of Arrogate, began her career last Oct. 3 at Churchill Downs and has averaged a race a month since. She was a two-time stakes winner at Oaklawn against fillies and has faced 3-year-old males twice, finishing third in the Arkansas Derby in April and fourth in the Preakness in May.

Still, Lukas believes Secret Oath has gotten stronger, not weaker, over time.

“She’s absolutely stronger and mentally I think she’s improved too,” Lukas said. “She just seems so settled, she did that today like nothing. I think this atmosphere, this barn back here by the woods has helped her. When we finish every gallop, we ride her in the woods. I think she’s just enjoying it. Every day I like what I see.”

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Nest and Secret Oath headline what is expected to be a seven-horse field in the Alabama, run at 1 1/4 miles. Rounding out the expected field are Gerrymander, coming off a three-length victory in the four-horse Grade 2 Mother Goose in June; Nostalgic, third in the CCA Oaks; Goddess of Fire, runner-up in the one-mile Wilton Stakes; and longshots She’s Keen and Skratch Kat.

Also working Tuesday for Lukas was the 2-year-old filly Naughty Gal, the Grade 3 Adirondack winner on Aug. 7, who went a half-mile in 49.33 seconds under Saez over the Oklahoma training track. Lukas, who had originally said he was going to run Naughty Gal in the Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill in mid-September, said Naughty Gal will run back here in the Grade 1 Spinaway on Sept. 4.

Lukas had planned to run Summer Promise, second in the Grade 3 Schuylerville, in the Spinaway, but she is now being pointed to the Pocahontas.

“I think Naughty Gal fits seven-eighths better,” Lukas said.