Rogue’s Jewel Noses D’ Oratory to Capture New York Oaks at Finger Lakes
Photo: Stephanie Van Minos / Tom Cooley
Blue Devil Racing Stable’s Rogue’s Jewel captured the 25th running of the $75,000 New York Oaks on Saturday at Finger Lakes, winning the 1 1/16-mile contest for New York-bred three-year-old fillies by a nose, just ahead of D’ Oratory, a maiden trained by James Bond, who was making her second career start after a debut third-place finish going a 1 1/16 miles over a muddy track at Belmont on June 10th.
A field of nine fillies went to the post for the Oaks, lead by the close one-two finishers in the Lake Luzerne Stakes on August 13th in their last starts. Favorite Freud’s Notebook, drawn in post eight, won the seven-furlong race for trainer Bruce Brown. Second choice, and going to the inside post under jockey Dennis Carr, was Rogue’s Jewel, trained by Carlos Martin, the last-to-second close finisher in the Lake Luzerne at odds of 18-1. Rogue’s Jewel had not raced beyond seven furlongs in her eight previous starts, and was seeking her second lifetime victory. The maiden, D’ Oratory, started from post three.
Rogue’s Jewel got out of the gate with good energy under Carr, but the pair immediately settled into the strategy which had been successful for the filly in the past, taking back behind the frontrunners in preparation for a late bid. Helyna’s My Mom set all the early fractions, tracked first by Regina’s Wish and Azucaa Ann, and then more closely (after three quarters in 1:13.75) by Freud’s Notebook, who was hung five wide in the first turn. Rogue’s Jewel proceeded unhurried at the rail in seventh and D’ Oratory, bumped at the start and checked in the early stages, was even more reserved, running in eighth and ninth.
Photo: Stephanie Van Minos / Tom Cooley
Both late-running fillies swung out for the stretch drive, Rogue’s Jewel into the three path and D’ Oratory to her outside. While Helyna’s My Mom and Freud’s Notebook battled it out alone up front in mid stretch, the two closers made up ground, and in the final sixteenth it was their turn to fight it out for the win. It was nip and tuck to the wire, but Rogue’s Jewel just managed to keep her nose in front of the maiden for the score, completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.67. Freud’s Notebook finished third. Helyna’s My Mom, Magical Solution, Turned to Gold, Northern Berkshire, Azucaa Anne and Regina’s Wish completed the order of finish. Jockey Dennis Carr thought the stretch-out in distance was the key to Rogue’s Jewel’s victory. “It unfolded the way we wanted it to,” said Carr. “The added distance made the difference for her.”
Rogue’s Jewel’s second career win brings her lifetime record to 2-4-0 from nine starts with $110,530 in purse earnings. Bred by and foaled at Milfer Farm, Rogue’s Jewel is a daughter of Broken Vow out of multiple stakes-placed New York-bred Dancing Blues ($166,613) by Cure the Blues. The mare was purchased by Milfer Farm as an OBS spring two-year-old in 2001 for $25,000. Her only other foal to start (also a New York-bred) has also won. Rogue’s Jewel sold as a yearling for $60,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s Preferred New York-bred sale to Hidden Brook (agent), consigned by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds (agent).
Source URL: http://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2010/08/29/rogues-jewel-new-york-oaks/