Taylor's Spirit seeks to turn tables in Martha Washington

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Taylor’s Spirit will attempt to turn the tables on Sunset Wish when the 3-year-old fillies start as the most accomplished members of the field in the $125,000 Martha Washington on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

The mile race that ends at the sixteenth pole will award Kentucky Oaks eligibility points to its first four finishers on a scale of 10-4-2-1.

Sunset Wish won her third straight race last month when she captured the $75,000 Take Charge Brandi on Jan. 4 at Delta Downs by 2 3/4 lengths over multiple stakes winner and favorite Taylor’s Spirit. The fillies face five others Saturday, including Aqueduct invader Power Gal and Fair Grounds debut winner Marathon Queen.

M. Washington (Race 8)

KEY CONTENDERS

Taylor’s Spirit, by Algorithms
Last 3 Beyers: 69-77-33

◗ The three-time stakes winner set the pace in the Take Charge Brandi before being overtaken by Sunset Wish. The 7 1/2-furlong race was run around two turns. It was the first start in 2 1/2 months for Taylor's Spirit.

“She was on the lead by herself and when that horse passed her, she wasn’t expecting that,” trainer Scott Gelner said. “She dug back in. More than anything, she got some experience.”

◗ Taylor’s Spirit has since been working at Delta for the Martha Washington, which long has been a potential target for her by owners Mark Norman and Norman Stables and Gelner.

“She came out of the last race real good, been training very forwardly,” Gelner said. “I think the mile distance, and it finishing at the sixteenth pole, will benefit her.”

◗ Oaklawn-based Kevin Roman has been tabbed to ride Taylor’s Spirit because of his familiarity with the filly, Gelner said. Roman was aboard when Taylor’s Spirit won a maiden special weight sprint by 13 3/4 lengths July 8 at Prairie Meadows and also teamed with her one start later, when she captured the track’s $65,000 Prairie Gold Lassie.

◗ Taylor’s Spirit also has registered stakes wins in the $60,000 Happy Ticket at a mile on turf at Louisiana Downs and the $50,000 My Trusty Cat by 6 1/4 lengths in October at Delta Downs. Overall, she is 4 for 6.

“She always shows up,” Gelner said.

Sunset Wish, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 73-67-58

◗ She is unbeaten at two turns, starting her streak in a maiden special weight at a mile at Penn National in her third career start Oct. 19. Sunset Wish then captured a first-level allowance at about a mile on turf at Fair Grounds before her sweeping win in the Take Charge Brandi.

◗ Sunset Wish is a Godolphin homebred, and her dam, Burgundy Ice, is a half-sister to champion Bernardini.

◗ Trainer Michael Stidham has given the mount to Joe Bravo.