Six 3-year-old fillies will line up in the Saratoga Race Course starting gate July 19 for the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks invitational Stakes (G1), but what the field lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality.
When partnered with the Aug. 16 Alabama Stakes (G1), the CCA Oaks is part one of a crucial two-race series at the Spa that will play a large role in crowning the division's Eclipse champion at the end of the year.
"This is a good race, it's a real grade 1," said dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. "These are the best of the best. I think when these fillies leave Saratoga (after the Alabama), we're going to know who is the leader for the champion 3-year-old filly."
Casse found himself in great position to take that award after Tracy Farmer's homebred La Cara cruised to a three-length victory in Saratoga's Acorn Stakes (G1) June 6. The daughter of Street Sense is the only sophomore filly with two grade 1 victories this season and turned the tables on Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer.
However, La Cara now finds herself a more defined target for her rivals, and she won't be hard for them to find as the expected pacesetter. Casse said he and jockey Dylan Davis are prepared to potentially catch more heat on the lead, but her far outside post could play to her benefit in the 1 1/8-mile contest.
"I do think they're not going to let her get away as easy as she has," Casse said. "There's some speed in the race, but if they go after La Cara, they're not going to finish. Now, La Cara might not be able to take the heat either, but you're going to sacrifice your horse if you go after us."
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How to deal with La Cara will be an interesting decision for the other five riders. The most likely challenger could be Gold Square's Dry Powder, who in three starts has never been further than a half-length behind at any point of call before the finish. The Chad Summers trainee was most recently caught late by Stonehaven Steading's homebred Sweet Seraphine in the June 22 Wilton Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Cherie DeVaux trainee has come from off the pace in both career wins.
However, the morning-line favorite at 8-5 is last year's 2-year-old filly champion, Immersive, who aims to rebound off her first career defeat in the Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs last month.
Trainer Brad Cox stated before the Monomoy Girl that the race was designed to be a steppingstone back into the top level, preparing her for these spots at Saratoga. Now with a race under her belt—a tough race thanks to a dramatic stretch duel with Take Charge Milady—all signs looked positive when she arrived at Saratoga July 15.
"She looked great, ears forward, traveling into the bridle," said the trainer's assistant and son, Blake Cox, after her first morning on the track July 16. "She trained a lot here last summer, so she knows the place. She was moving great, energy level is great after shipping."
Her Saratoga form was elite last season, breaking her maiden and winning the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at double-digit odds, something she hasn't come close to seeing since. Blake Cox oversaw her at Saratoga last year, and was pleased to see not much has changed.
"I wouldn't say there's much change really," he said about the filly. "She always kept a very good coat, very good weight, and it's continued into her 3-year-old career."
Her familiar foe, Take Charge Milady, is one of the field's wild cards. Trained by Kenny McPeek for James Ball, Magdalena Racing, and Kenneth Rhodes, she proved effective as a deep closer when a strong second to La Cara in Keeneland's Ashland Stakes (G1). In the small field of the Monomoy Girl, she exhibited the ability to lay close and get the jump on Immersive.
Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish, Corms Racing Stable, and Jorge Abreu's Scottish Lassie has also displayed different styles in her races, but Abreu said he'd prefer to see her sitting forward in a stalking position, like she was when winning last year's Frizette Stakes (G1) and finishing third to La Cara in the Acorn.
READ: Scottish Lassie Aims to Give Abreu Another Milestone
The grade 1 winner is now in the third race of her form cycle, and Abreu has seen a similar attitude to the one she had prior to her nine-length Frizette domination.
"She was a really good-sized filly (last year), but now she's stronger," the trainer and co-owner said. "She's got more muscle definition, she's always been a good-sized horse. She's carrying good weight, good flesh. That's all you can ask for."
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, July 19, 2025, Race 10Entries: Coaching Club American Oaks Invitational S. (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Immersive (KY) Manuel Franco 122 Brad H. Cox 8/5 2 2Sweet Seraphine (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 118 Cherie DeVaux 8/1 3 3Scottish Lassie (KY) Joel Rosario 122 Jorge R. Abreu 9/2 4 4Take Charge Milady (KY) Kendrick Carmouche 118 Kenneth G. McPeek 9/2 5 5Dry Powder (KY) Jose Lezcano 118 Chad Summers 12/1 6 6La Cara (KY) Dylan Davis 122 Mark E. Casse 2/1
