John C. Oxley's Miss Matched held off a slew of rivals inside the final furlong to prevail by a length in the $100,000 Arlington Oaks at Arlington Park on Saturday.
Shaun Bridgmohan rode the John Ward Jr.-trained daughter of
Formal Gold who covered the 1 1/8-mile distance over a fast track in 1:49.39.
Miss Matched, racing second early, stalked the easy pace set by Ritzy (:24 1/5, :47 3/5, 1:11 3/5) before taking over in the stretch.
"She seems to run for me," Bridgmohan said. "She's a very, very gutsy filly. She rated real kindly for me. She was just waiting for me to push the button at the top of the lane and then she gave me everything."
The Oaks was her fourth victory in five starts this year ranging in distance from six to nine furlongs. Previously, the sophomore filly captured the $40,000 Ribbon Handicap when sprinting on opening day and parlayed that score into a graded stakes tally around two turns in the Dogwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Churchill Downs in June. She earned $60,000 for Saturday's win to boost her bankroll to $283,093 while bettering her overall record to five wins from eight starts.
Gallant Secret, who was third in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) in May, rallied from last after a half-mile to finish second under Jesse Campbell in the eight-horse field, a head clear of Tappin For Gold and Mark Guidry.
Eyes On Eddy, 17-10 favorite Whimsy, Easily, pacesetter Ritzy, and Flip Side completed the order of finish.
Whimsy saved ground into the stretch and rallied a bit before tapering off.
Miss Matched, dispatched at odds of better than 6-1, paid $14.20, $7.80, and $4.40. Gallant Secret returned $12.40 and $6. Tappin For Gold paid $4.
(Chart,
Equibase)
