Will's Secret mapping path to Kentucky Oaks

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Arkansas-based owner Willis Horton and trainer Dallas Stewart won Oaklawn Park’s first Kentucky Oaks points race last month with Will’s Secret.

They intend on hunting Kentucky Derby points here next Monday.

“We’re looking at the Southwest with Last Samurai,” Stewart said Friday.

The Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest on Feb. 15 doles out Kentucky Derby eligibility points to its first four finishers on a scale of 10-4-2-1.

It’s the same scale that was in place for the Martha Washington on Jan. 31, when Will’s Secret picked up 10 points for the Kentucky Oaks. She earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 81 for her win after invading from Stewart’s base of Fair Grounds.

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“We brought her back here and we’ll figure out what we’re going to do,” Stewart said. “We’ve got to go back to Oaklawn. We’ll see if it’s the Honeybee or the Fantasy. We’d love to win the Oaks with her if we could figure out a path.”

Horton and Stewart found a successful path to the Kentucky Oaks in 2006, when they won the classic with Lemons Forever.

The Grade 3, $300,000 Honeybee is March 6 and the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy is April 3.

Will’s Secret, a homebred by Horton's champion Will Take Charge, won a maiden special weight over 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds before traveling a mile in the Martha Washington. She dominated by 5 1/4 lengths at Oaklawn.

“I thought she ran terrific,” Stewart said. “I actually thought it may have been a little short for her, but she proved that she could handle it. She’s kind of versatile. She did very well.”

Jon Court was aboard, and also is scheduled to ride Last Samurai.

“We think he’s a two-turn horse,” Stewart said. “He won going short, then had some bad luck [at two turns], didn’t get a good race. He’s had several really good works at the Fair Grounds.”

Horton, Stewart, and Court also will team up with Grade 2 winner Long Range Toddy in the Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn.

“He’s coming off a layoff, doing very well,” Stewart said.