Sunset Wish, three-for-three around two turns including a decisive score over heavily favored Taylor’s Spirit in last month’s $75,000 Take Charge Brandi at Delta Downs, will attempt to make it four in a row in Saturday’s $125,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park.
Contested at one mile, the Martha Washington is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series. Qualifying points of 10-4-2-1 for the Kentucky Oaks will be awarded to the first four finishers.
A Godolphin homebred, Sunset Wish has traveled well and proven to be versatile. Seventh and second her first two starts, she kicked off her win streak with a maiden win at Penn National over a mile, followed by turf allowance score at Fair Grounds, also at a mile. She wore down the speedy Taylor’s Spirit in the 7 1/2-furlong Take Charge Brandi, scoring by a convincing 2 3/4 lengths.
By Kentucky Derby winner Orb, Sunset Wish is out of a half-sister to Preakness (G1) winner and champion Bernardini.
Taylor’s Spirit has also displayed multi-surface talent and was a three-time stakes winner as a juvenile, registering wins at Prairie Meadows, Louisiana Downs on turf, and at Delta. Her last Kentucky Oaks prep appearance proved to be her worst outing, though, as she retreated badly to eighth in the Pocahontas (G2) at Churchill Downs in September.
Trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle Marathon Queen, a debut maiden winner at Fair Grounds going six furlongs on December 22. The daughter of Derby winner Super Saver is out of the multiple Grade 1-placed Marathon Lady. Also among the field of seven is the Mark Casse-trained Power Gal, a Japanese-bred daughter of Empire Maker who could improve significantly stretching out to two turns for the first time.
