Nickname tries to keep trend going in Martha Washington
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Nickname will attempt to become the third horse at the Oaklawn meet to return from the Breeders’ Cup with a stakes win when she runs Saturday in the $100,000 Martha Washington. Street Strategy pulled the trick in the Fifth Season, while Ivan Fallunovalot followed suit in the King Cotton.
Nickname is coming off a fourth-place finish in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, won by 2-year-old filly champion Songbird on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
“I thought she ran hard against the best fillies in the world,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Nickname for the LNJ Foxwoods operation of Larry, Nanci, and Jamie Roth.
Nickname will face seven others in the Martha Washington, a one-mile race that will end at the sixteenth pole. Her rivals include My Master Plan, a two-time stakes winner who is undefeated in four starts, and Marquee Miss, who has registered both of her wins in stakes. Adding further depth to the field are Lovable Lyss, fourth in the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds, and the promising Ready to Confess and Durango.
Martha Washington (race 8)
Key Contenders
Nickname, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 84-78-76
◗ Her crowning achievement last year came Oct. 3 in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park, where she powered to a 3 1/2-length win.
“It was very special – first Grade 1 for us for the Roths,” Asmussen said. “We’re very proud of the filly and the effort she put in that day.”
◗ Nickname has done the bulk of her prep work for her 3-year-old debut at Fair Grounds but breezed an easy half-mile over the Oaklawn surface Tuesday to get a feel for the track, said Asmussen. Nickname has made a highly favorable physical appearance upon her arrival at Oaklawn.
“She’s very impressive,” Asmussen said. “I think that the two-turn mile here is a good starting point for her.”
◗ Nickname, who has tactical speed, will break from the rail under Corey Nakatani.
“She’s very kind, very handy,” said Asmussen.
My Master Plan, by Oratory
Last 3 Beyers: 79-64-69
◗ She made her two-turn debut last out in the $100,000 Trapeze on Dec. 13 at Remington Park. She set the pace, then held for a head win over the late-surging Dorodansa. My Master Plan’s time of 1:38.98 for the one-mile Trapeze was a tad quicker than Discreetness ran one race later on the card in capturing the $250,000 Springboard Mile in 1:39.15. Discreetness has since won the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn.