In their first encounter, Secret Oath defeated Todd Pletcher-trained rival Nest by two lengths in the Longines Kentucky Oaks. Both of them later competed against males in the Triple Crown, with Secret Oath placing fourth for the renowned D. Wayne Lukas in the Preakness Stakes and Nest taking second in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets. They should have a fantastic battle in Round 2 with significant Eclipse Award ramifications.
1. Butterbean: After winning the Iowa Oaks, she seeks her fourth straight victory despite a significant drop in class. Although she might prefer the longer distance and trainer Kenny McPeek has a history of pulling dramatic upsets in big stakes races, it seems improbable in this situation.
2. Society: Despite being unbeaten, she hasn't yet competed in Grade 1 or even a Grade 2 race. She has some speed in a race without tempo, but her defeat in the Big Two will take much more.
3. Nest: In her seven career starts, she has never finished worse than third and is consistently improving. Despite finishing second in the Longines Kentucky Oaks and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, Secret Oath may edge her out this time around. Whatever the case, it should be an exciting stretch clash.
4. Nostalgic: She won the Gazelle Stakes before the Kentucky Oaks, although she never ran well in that race. She already has a Grade 3 victory under her belt, so she's sure to surprise the top female competitors.
Junior Alvarado and Bill Mott are the jockeys.
5. Secret Oath: Put a line through that one because she had issues while coming in fourth place in the Preakness Stakes. She was undoubtedly the best in the Kentucky Oaks, and her subsequent workouts have been terrific. We'll support her at this one 1/8-mile stretch. At 1 1/4 miles, the Alabama Stakes might be a different story.
ADVOCATE: Secret Oath
Predicted finishing order: 5-3-4-1
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