Azeri Stakes

All eyes may have been on Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) in Oaklawn's GII Azeri S. Saturday, but it was Majestic Oops (Majestic Harbor) who sprung the upset for a career high. Racing in the colors of Medallion Racing, Evan Trommer, Agave Racing Stable and Sheila Regan, Majestic Oops left the gate sharply before taking back on the inside behind La Cara (Street Sense). She waited in third with Nitrogen to her outside behind La Cara's :23.78 and :47.17 fractions, then tipped out coming off the turn as...

Saturday's GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn Park features several of the most prominent figures in the Distaff division each lining up to get their first graded stakes win of the 2022 season. The reigning champion sprinter and winner of the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) returns to the two-turn distance after spending much of her 2021 season at seven-furlongs. She's been plenty successful at this distance before, including a win the 2020 GI Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park and two third-place efforts in...

GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) makes her first start of 2021 Saturday in the GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn. Victress of the GIII Honeybee S. at this oval last season, the bay rallied to be third behind champion Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in Oaklawn's GIII Fantasy S. in May. She wired a Churchill optional claimer by six lengths a month later and romped in the GIII Indiana Oaks in July. Overlooked at 15-1 in the Oaks due to the presence of future champions Swiss Skydiver and Gamine (Into Mischief), Shedaresthedevil...