Nest, The Vow of Secrets Ready to Rumble in Alabama

news7g08/18/2022

3 4 minutes read

Nest, The Vow of Secrets Ready to Rumble in Alabama

There are seven of them going to run in Saratoga’s Racecourse Top summer events for 3-year-olds.

However, only two of the names of 3-year-olds appeared in the bright lights of the market for $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) August 20.

Secret Vow compare to Nest .

Nest’s Secret Vow vs.

Use them in any order you choose, but they’re the pair that’s predicted to make Alabama the can’t-miss race of the week, possibly even a 40-day encounter.

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This is a rubber match between two lady heavyweights. Secret Oath, owned by Briland Farm, got her first — and biggest — when she won Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs May 6. The margin of victory is two lengths; Nest, owned by Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House, came in second.

Nest will get revenge on Saratoga earlier in the encounter as she passed the 12 1/4 length Secret Oath in the American Oaks Coaching Club (G1) on July 22.

Now, here we are.

The side story in this gripping 1/4 mile race is teacher-to-student. D. Wayne Lukas, the coach of Secret Oath, will be up against Nest and Todd Pletcher, who have worked under Lukas for seven years.

Lukas, a competitive man like you will ever meet, can’t wait for the rematch. He spent the better part of the last month telling anyone who asked that the Nest wasn’t better than a dozen of his lengths.

“I’m very confident,” Lukas said of her sassy. “I think she’s the best in her class. But you have to prove it over and over again. You have to keep proving it. It wasn’t luck, and then she wasn’t as good as she is now. She had flatulence, she gained weight.

Then, when he flashed back to the American Oaks Coaching Club, he shook his head.

“I want to get back on track,” he said. “It was a sour point of the meeting for me. Still is.”

Pletcher, like everyone else on the Saratoga stage, showed nothing but respect for his mentor. If Lukas predicts there will be a battle in Alabama, Pletcher agrees, ostensibly at least.

“Look,” said Pletcher, “The Vow of Secrets is a terrible thing. Things went our way last time and you don’t take anything for granted in these big races. (Nest) ran great but I don’t think the Secret Oath ran her race. So I’m sure the coach will leave her ready this time.”

With the ball in his field, Lukas campaigned his own praise back to Pletcher’s half.

“She’s good. She’s really good,” Lukas said. “She doesn’t have any limits on distance. As a lousy cripple like me, I would treat her like an unruly horse. No doubt.”

Nest, daughter of Curlin , will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., who took part in six starts — five of them winning. Secret oath, daughter of Interrogation , has won five of his 10 career starts. She will have jockey Luis Saez, who gets to ride in the American Oaks Coaching Club, which is not what Lukas wants to see.

Lukas said he spoke to Saez about that ride, which suggests Secret Oath is closer to speed than she is normally. Lukas wanted his slut to commit a devastating act — like she did in the Kentucky Oaks — and he discussed it with Saez.

Lukas said he never thought about changing drivers.

“I think he’s on the same page as well,” Lukas said. “We had some serious conversations. Three or four. I said the majority. This is a business. We don’t deal with 12-year-olds in Little League. We are dealing with 12-year-olds in Little League. dealing with racers who are making millions,” I told him exactly what I thought; that we gave away one person. I came across it a long time ago, all the way. He knows I’m on his side and he has to hear it. I am the coach and he is the midfielder. I don’t give him a backup. I just told him we have to play a better game. “

When asked if Saez takes criticism well, Lukas smiles.

“He’s very quiet, I don’t know if he’s good at shooting,” Lukas said. “He doesn’t say anything, but he never does. You can compliment him and he doesn’t say anything.”

Lukas is confident that Secret Oath will return. Pletcher is confident that Nest will continue its brilliant run.

“You’re always worried about getting a big win,” says Pletcher. “It looks like she took it easy, but it’s still a huge effort. Every sign is that she’s in good form. She looks great and is doing all the things you want her to do. see one doing between races. I’m really happy with her.”

While all eyes were on the two track and field players, Lukas warned against brushing off the rest of the pitch. He scouted the talent in five other athletes.

Getting Started with Klaravich Stables’ Gerrymander , trained by Chad Brown. She’s about to win Mother Goose (G2) at Belmont Park on June 25.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with her,” Brown said of Into Mischief’s daughter. “I gave her a layoff by design. Forcing a race between Mother Goose and Alabama for that particular horse I don’t think would be beneficial.”

Also in this field are people trained by Pletcher Goddess of Fire , owned by Red Oak Stable; Godolphin’s recall , coached by Bill Mott, third place in the American Oaks Coaching Club; Calumet’s Farm She’s Keen , coached by Rusty Arnold, who broke her maiden streak in her final, fifth start; and Rigney Racing’s Skratch Kat was coached by Philip Bauer, who was starting to own her shares.