Red Ruby earns 10 Kentucky Oaks points with Martha Washington win

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Red Ruby picked up 10 points for the Kentucky Oaks on Saturday with a professional-looking win in the $125,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park. She stalked the pace and went on to a 2 1/2-length victory over Sassy Sienna.

Sassy Sienna earned four points toward the Kentucky Oaks, while Cosmic Burst, who was third in the Martha Washington, earned 2 and Tyfosha, who was fourth, earned 1.

The Martha Washington was a mile race and ended at the sixteenth pole, as do all races at that distance at Oaklawn.

Red Ruby ($7) broke well and raced between rivals in fourth as Secret Passion took the field through an opening quarter in 23.77 seconds. Sassy Sienna took over through a half-mile in 47.87. Red Ruby, who earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure for the win, advanced through six furlongs in 1:12.63, overtook Sassy Sienna in the stretch, and went on to cover the distance in the slop in 1:39.67.

Robby Albarado was aboard Red Ruby for trainer Kellyn Gorder.

“I really liked the way she tucked in in that pocket and was in amongst horses,” Gorder said. “That was a really educational race for her. She wasn’t throwing her head up when she got dirt. She did it like she’s supposed to do it.

“She’s the type that hopefully we can have on that first Friday in May.”

Red Ruby is a daughter of Tiznow who races for Sandra Sexton and Brandi Nicholson. She won a maiden special weight in her second career start Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs. It was her first race around two turns, and she rolled by 3 1/2 lengths. She then proceeded to the Martha Washington.

Gorder said the intent is to run Oaklawn’s next race for 3-year-old fillies, the Grade 3, $200,000 Honeybee on March 10.

“We’ll see how she comes out of the race,” Gorder said. “That’s probably the most logical spot.”

Red Ruby earned $75,000 for the win to boost her earnings to $123,000.