Oaklawn Picks 2023 Matron Stakes Preview & FREE Picks | Matareya Returns For More At 4 March 30, 2023 Matareya (Keeneland Photo) Oaklawn Picks 2023 Matron Stakes Preview & FREE Picks | Matareya Returns For More At 4 March 30, 2023 By: Curtis "Magic" Kalleward twitteremail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article Aaron previews the 2023 Matron Stakes from Oaklawn Park, then gives his top picks & long shots from the 1st running of this 6-furlong dirt sprint for older fillies & mares. After winning 4 straight races last year including the Acorn Stakes (G1), the Brad Cox-trained Matareya returns at age 4 for her 1st start of the year. Will she come up short off the bench? Tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section! SMASH the *Thumbs Up* ~ HIT *Subscribe* ~ RING the *Notification* bellThe track press release:Oaklawn created the Matron Stakes to enhance its program for older female sprinters and with the hope of earning graded status quickly.So far, so good.Friday’s inaugural $250,000 Matron has lured a field of seven, including Grade 1 winner Matareya for trainer Brad Cox, multiple Grade 2 winner Wicked Halo for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and Grade 3 winner Pretty Birdie for trainer Norm Casse.Probable post time for the 6-furlong Matron, which anchors a 10-race card, is 4:58 p.m. (Central). Racing begins at 12:35 p.m., with the Matron going as the ninth race. Oaklawn Park Full Card Plays Available Now There’s a reason we’re the #1 trusted source for premium racing picks & info. Find Out Why After closing her 2-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish behind eventual Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath in a 1-mile allowance race at Oaklawn, trainer Brad Cox targeted one-turn races for Matareya at 3. Cox was rewarded as Matareya, a homebred daughter of Pioneerofthe Nile for Godolphin, won four consecutive starts, including the $400,000 Beaumont Stakes (G3) at about 7 furlongs in April at Keeneland, $500,000 Eight Belles Stakes (G2) at 7 furlongs in May at Churchill Downs and the $500,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) at 1 mile in June at Belmont Park.Cox decided to stop on Matareya following a third-place finish in the $500,000 Test Stakes (G1) at 7 furlongs Aug. 6 at Saratoga in preparation for a 4-year-old campaign. A supplemental nominee, the Matron is Matareya’s expected bridge to the $750,000 Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares at 7 furlongs May 6 at Churchill Downs, Cox said. The Matron will be Matareya’s first start against older horses.“She’s training amazing,” Cox said of Matareya, who has been based this winter and early spring at Fair Grounds. “Three-quarters is probably not her cup of tea, but this is a great spot to get her started. It’s a prep for what we’re hoping will be Kentucky Derby Day in the Derby City Distaff.”Program favorite Wicked Halo hasn’t started since finishing third in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at 7 furlongs Nov. 5 at Keeneland.Sandwiched around a third-place finish behind Matareya and Pretty Birdie in the Eight Belles and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Wicked Halo won four consecutive starts, including the $250,000 Prioress Stakes (G2) at 6 furlongs Sept. 2 at Saratoga and the $350,000 Raven Run Stakes (G2) at 7 furlongs Oct. 22 at Keeneland. Wicked Halo ran twice at the 2021-2022 Oaklawn meeting, finishing fourth in the $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes and third behind Pretty Bridie in the $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes. Both 6-furlong races were for 3-year-old fillies.After winning the Purple Martin, the speedy Pretty Birdie returned to Oaklawn to win the $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes at 5 ½ furlongs Dec. 17 and run second to Yuugiri in the $150,000 Carousel Stakes at 6 furlongs Feb. 25 in her last start.“With Pretty Birdie, we have a fitness edge over two really nice fillies,” Casse said, referring to Matareya and Wicked Halo. “But probably more importantly is tactically and race-shape wise, I think we’re at a bit of an advantage. I feel like both of those horses are better suited going a little longer. Personally, I think Pretty Birdie is sitting on a really big race. We’re going to go over there pretty confident.”Pretty Birdie was beaten 3 ½ lengths by Yuugiri over a sloppy surface after setting fractions of :21.41 for the opening quarter and :44.97 for a half-mile. Pretty Birdie won the Purple Martin and Poinsettia in gate-to-wire fashion. Yuugiri is skipping the Matron in favor of the $600,000 Madison Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares at 7 furlongs April 8 at Keeneland.“I just feel like she really likes Oaklawn Park,” Casse said, referring to Pretty Birdie. “I feel like the last race against Yuugiri, I’m not so sure she likes an off track as much as a fast main track. We set some serious fractions in the last race. I don’t know if we’re going to have to do that this go round.”Pretty Birdie is seeking her fourth career stakes victory. She won the $150,000 Schuylerville (G3) for 2-year-old filly sprinters in 2021 at Saratoga.I’m the Boss of Me finished second to the Casse-trained Hot and Sultry in the $150,000 American Beauty Stakes for older female sprinters Jan. 21 at Oaklawn for trainer Greg Compton. Teddy’s Barino did not make the trip from California and will be scratched. Join the Inner Circle Sign up for exclusive 10% discount on orders, plus be the first to access our daily free and premium horse racing picks, articles, podcasts, and more! Sign Up The projected Matron field from the rail out: I’m the Boss of Me, Francisco Arrieta to ride, 117 pounds, 15-1 on the morning lineMatareya, Flavien Prat, 117, 5-2Pretty Birdie, David Cabrera, 124, 7-2Dealing Justice, Isaac Castillo, 124, 15-1Teddy’s Barino, Frankie Dettori, 121, 7-2Wicked Halo, Tyler Gaffalione, 117, 2-1Samurai Charm, Ricardo Santana Jr., 117, 10-1
College Football Week 11 and NFL Week 10 Picks | Dudes Who Bet Sports 214 Aaron & Papa Dude give their College Football picks for… Read More
Official Breeders’ Cup 2024 Picks | Blinkers Off 692 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for the 41st… Read More
Jon White Breeders’ Cup 2024 Interview and Picks | Blinkers Off 691 The Racing Dudes interview Jon White, former Santa Anita, Del… Read More
Breeders’ Cup Classic and Football Picks | Dudes Who Bet Sports 213 Aaron & Papa Dude give their College Football picks for… Read More
Breeders’ Cup 2024 Pre-Entries Analysis | Blinkers Off 690 The Racing Dudes dive into the 2024 Breeders’ Cup pre-entries… Read More
Breeders’ Cup 2024 Top 5 Performances Aaron gives his Top 5 Breeders’ Cup performances from the… Read More
Who is the 2024 3-Year-Old Male of the Year? Aaron gives his thoughts on who should be the 2024… Read More
College Football Week 11 and NFL Week 10 Picks | Dudes Who Bet Sports 214 Aaron & Papa Dude give their College Football picks for… Read More