Briland Farm’s 2022 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Secret Oath has been retired from racing due to a minor ankle injury, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Oct. 6 at Keeneland.
Ron Flatter of Horse Racing Nation first reported news of her retirement due to inflammation in her right front ankle.
The 4-year-old homebred Arrogate filly last breezed five furlongs in :58 3/5 at Churchill Downs Sept. 28, soon after which the decision was made to retire her. She had been pointed toward the Oct. 8 Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and was not entered due to her physical setback.
Lukas said the injury was “nothing serious,” but without a start in the Spinster, an intended fall try at Santa Anita Park in the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) left her Hall of Fame trainer feeling that was not “really workable.”
She is to be sold during The November Sale at Fasig-Tipton Nov. 7. She was withdrawn from the same sale last year.
She is currently at Robert and Stacy Mitchell’s Briland Farm near Lexington. They bred and raised her and ultimately sent her to Lukas, who trained her dam, Absinthe Minded , for the Mitchells.
Secret Oath retires with earnings of $2,444,767 after compiling a 6-5-3 record in 18 starts. In addition to her Kentucky Oaks triumph, she won two other graded stakes races: the Azeri Stakes (G2) and the 2022 Honeybee Stakes (G3).
She took on males in the 2022 Preakness Stakes (G1), finishing fourth behind Early Voting , Epicenter , and Creative Minister .
Secret Oath walks alongside trainer D. Wayne Lukas on his pony on May 19, 2022, at Pimlico Race Course
She placed in seven other grade 1 races, most recently finishing second, beaten four lengths, by Idiomatic in the Aug. 25 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
“She was a joy to train,” Lukas said. “Very sound, very willing every day. …We’ll miss her financially and from an emotional standpoint.”
