Soothsay Surges From Last To Win Indiana Oaks

SHELBYVILLE, IN – After a troubled start put her last early on, Raydelz Stable homebred Soothsay surged to win a thrilling four-horse photo finish to Wednesday’s $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3) at Indiana Grand.

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Soothsay hopped in the air as the gates broke open and she was last away from stall 2 under Flavien Prat as the 3/1 second choice. Up front, Lovely Ride set the tempo inside Marion Francis through opening fractions of :24.71, :48.88, and 1:12.44.

Prat gave Soothsay the green light heading into the far turn and she began picking off rivals with ease while running wide and in the clear, eventually straightening for home in fifth and with new leader Moon Swag well within her sights.

Fighting gamely against Lady Aces along her outside, Soothsay stole command in the final jumps and put her neck across the wire first. Moon Swag was a head past Lady Aces, with Marion Francis a neck further behind along the rail.

Trained by Richard Mandella, Soothsay completed the fast 1 1/16-mile dirt route in 1:44.36.

Soothsay (center) defeats Moon Swag (right) and Lady Aces (left) in the Indiana Oaks (Credit: Coady Photography)

“She was really tense in the gate,” Prat said. “I couldn’t get her to relax. She broke in the air, so from that point, I just wanted her to travel well, to regroup well. I was traveling really well down the backside and tried to make my way closer to the lead, and she really dug in to get the win.”

Lovely Ride faded in the stretch before finishing fifth ahead of the 2/1 favorite Will’s Secret. Sweet Pearl, Malloy, and Li’l Tootsie completed the order of finish.

Forever Boss and Oliviaofthedesert scratched.

Soothsay’s win followed her only defeat in 4 career starts, a runner-up finish in the Summertime Oaks (G2). The 3-year-old Distorted Humor filly, based in southern California, has now earned $431,800.

“When they got to the 3/8 pole and she was really moving, I thought, ‘If she can be third, she can at least pay for the shipping,'” said co-owner Dell Hancock. “And then we started riding really hard from the 1/4 pole home. … I’m so proud of her. So proud.”

Soothsay returned $8 to win, $4.20 to place, and $3.40 to show. Moon Swag brought back $20.80 to place and $11.80 to show. Lady Aces paid $7.20 to show.