Thewayiam tries to start new win streak in Penn Oaks

Thewayiam had a three-stakes winning streak snapped when she finished second to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Rushing Fall in the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland. On Saturday at Penn National, she’ll be a solid favorite to return to the win column in the $200,000 Penn Oaks, a one-mile turf race.

Bred in France and raced there at 2, Thewayiam was picked out by Brad Weisbord, purchased on behalf of Michael Dubb and partners, and sent to trainer Graham Motion.

At Gulfstream Park this winter, Thewayiam reeled off consecutive victories in the Ginger Brew, Grade 3 Sweetest Chant, and Grade 3 Herecomesthebride.

“Even though she has won three stakes for us, the race at Keeneland may have been her best performance,” Motion said.

Thewayiam had to wait for racing room approaching the stretch of the one-mile Appalachian, and Rushing Fall got the jump on her. Both fillies were moving well at the wire, with Rushing Fall scoring by a length. It was 1 1/2 lengths back to third-place finisher Goodthingstaketime, who also is in the Penn Oaks.

Thewayiam’s Beyer Speed Figures have risen in four straight races, and the 88 she earned in the Appalachian may not be her ceiling. She has a wicked late kick and seems to still be improving.

“None of us could have imagined she’d be this successful,” Motion said. “Physically, she’s a little on the small side. Really, and I’ve said this before, she’s like the Energizer Bunny. She’s tough, hard-trying, and suited by the American tracks. She’s very agile and switches on and off very well.”

Motion said that if things go well this weekend, Thewayiam will be pointed to the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Oaks, a 1 1/4-mile turf race July 7.

Thewayiam will be coupled in the wagering with Classy Dancer, who is co-owned by Dubb. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Thewayiam.

Trainer Simon Callaghan has shipped Grade 3 Senorita winner Treasuring in from Santa Anita. A sprinter in Great Britain and Ireland last year, she weakened to sixth in the 1 1/8-mile Providencia a start prior to her front-running win May 5 in the one-mile Senorita.

“We’ve found out a mile is the perfect distance for her,” Callaghan said. “When we ran her a mile and an eighth it was a bit too far for her. It was a little out of her window.”

John Velazquez has the mount.

Raucous, trained by Christophe Clement, won the Chelsey Flower at Aqueduct and finished third in the Jimmy Durante at Del Mar at 2. In her seasonal bow, the six-furlong Mizdirection at Aqueduct, she finished a wide eighth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths. Having had that race, she should take a step forward. Last year, she did her best running at a mile.