After a solid effort in a race such as the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1T) in mid-October, it's not unusual for the connections to give that 3-year-old filly some time off to prepare for the following year's campaign.
So why is Newstead Stables' practically perfect Laurelin running Nov. 15 in the Jockey Club Oaks (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack?
A primary answer is the distance, with the 1 3/8-mile distance serving as an early indicator of how the QE II runner-up will fare in the longer, premier grass stakes in 2026.
"The distance was attractive to find out if that's something she can handle next year," trainer Graham Motion said. "This will be her last race of the year. It's a nice race with a nice purse and you get to run against 3-year-old fillies going a distance she probably wants to do. Her pedigree sings out stamina. So, this gives us a good opportunity to find out."
Based on what Motion saw in 2025 from the filly bred in Ireland by M. H. Dixon and Mount Coote Estates, there is considerable reason for optimism about 2026.
The daughter of Zarak won her first five starts, including four stakes. The capper was an Aug. 9 win in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T), the second in the New York Racing Association's series of 3 graded stakes for 3-year-old fillies that concludes Saturday.
"It's been a phenomenal year," Motion said. "It's not very often a horse goes undefeated in its first 5 starts. I think when that happens, it builds up pressure to keep it going. But eventually, if you keep running them, they will get beat."
The loss came in the daughter of the Cape Cross mare Bari's last start, the QE II Challenge Cup. Fourth in the early stages, she rallied in the stretch but settled for second, 1 1/4 lengths away from Lush Lips.
"I don't think she lost too much in defeat last time," Motion said. "It was a little bit of a speed-favoring track at Keeneland those few days. But she ran very well and had a great year."
Motion said Laurelin will get some time off at Fair Hill before returning in the spring at Keeneland in a race that will likely be determined by how well she fares against her seven rivals at the Big A.
Heading the challengers is George Messina and Michael Lee's Fionn, a daughter of Twirling Candy who won the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T), the opening leg in the NYRA series. She skipped the Saratoga Oaks, but the Kentucky-bred won the $2 million Dueling Grounds Oaks (G3T) at Kentucky Downs for trainer Brad Cox on Sept. 10.
Favored at 3-2 odds in the QE II, she was eighth early on and rallied mildly to finish fourth, 4 3/4 lengths behind.
Also on hand will be Mark Grier's Evershed, a Churchill filly who was second in the Saratoga Oaks and then second again in the Sept. 6 Old Dominion Oaks in her most recent start.
Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, November 15, 2025, Race 7Entries: Jockey Club Oaks (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Scythian (NY) Sahin Civaci 122 William I. Mott - 2 Hereforagoodtime (KY) John R. Velazquez 118 Brendan P. Walsh - 3 National Archive (NY) Manuel Franco 118 Miguel Clement - 4 Fionn (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Brad H. Cox - 5 Evershed (IRE) Dylan Davis 118 Arnaud Delacour - 6 Don't Jinx It (KY) Jaime Rodriguez 118 Miguel Clement - 7 Laurelin (IRE) Kendrick Carmouche 122 H. Graham Motion - 8 Unmerited Favor (KY) Christopher Elliott 118 Kenneth G. McPeek -
