Capricious is Anything But Winning the Louisville Oaks

Original article written by Marzy Dotes posted 12 years 3 weeks ago

The scene at Louisville Downs was pure pandemonium after the horses crossed the finish line in the $1 million Grade I Louisville Oaks.

Capricious charged down the homestretch to defeat Big Honor by 1 ¼ lengths, with enough authority to finish the 1 1/8 mile distance in an impressive 1:49.40 under sunny skies.

Lines had snaked around the beer gardens and lemonade stands under the heat and humidity but rivaling them had been the ones at the betting windows during last minute wagering. The news that the amazing filly Sport of Queens had opted to face the males in the Louisville Derby had shifted the focus to other fillies in the fully subscribed field. She pulled off a scintillating second to powerhouse Maelstrom in that race and don’t be surprised if she pulls a Whitney later on in the series.

But Capricious made her own mark in the Oaks, proving once again that her name somehow just doesn’t define her. She’s not been anything but a rock of consistency during her racing career. What’s there to say about a filly who went into this race having won four out of six career starts and never finishing worse than second?

Capricious cost her owner Cleo Patra a pretty penny to the tune of $1.65 million at auction but she was worthy of the kind of gambles that define the sport. The dark bay filly with a bare snip of white on her face stood poised and regal in the auction ring, not fazed by the proceedings at all. She’s by the solid and now pensioned sire Tot Ziens who was one of many successful stallions sired by Conduit.

He sired some impressive racers who became future stallions himself in Baltimore Crown winner Fire Added Starter who’s a go to sire for both future milers and routers and Hammer who’s struggled more to define himself in the shed. But Capricious was produced by stakes winner Skittish, a daughter of Vindication who definitely made his presence felt in the breeding industry. As a broodmare, Skittish is still trying to find her way but the industry is eagerly awaiting the racing debut of her two year old son by Stay Awake named Startled Awake. He’s been blazing the track in the mornings breaking 58 seconds for five furlongs last time out in preparation for his debut later this season.

Capricious however is well into her second season of racing and hit the million dollar mark in earnings with her win in the Oaks. She didn’t work out as quickly as her half brother but turned in solid times. In her first start, she finished second in the mile distance but won next time out at a short route. Jockey Dean Sparks who had ridden her in the first two races lamented the loss of his mount in her stakes debut when Art Vandelay took ownership of the filly for a while. That stakes debut was the Five Fading Lights Stakes which she won after stalking the early pace.

Holly Winter rode her then but when Capricious entered the Steward’s Cup Juvenile Fillies, Sparks regained the mount as the filly once again was owned by Patra.

She finished second in that prestigious contest to the very formidable Sport of Queens but only lost by a neck.

After a three week break, she came back at three but not before her connections rethought her equipment. After some observation, it was noticed that Capricious hated her whip with a passion which became even clearer when she grabbed it between her teeth and dropped it on the ground putting a hoof on it. That made a lot of sense because as a racer, she had given everything she had to get to the finish line first and didn’t need more prompting.

She rewarded that wise decision by defeating a short field including Amazing As I Am in the Sunshine Oaks, to get her ready for her date at Louisville Downs. Even without the presence of Sport of Queens, the horses loaded in the gate with great anticipation.

When the gates opened, Capricious dropped back and settled into the eighth position content to allow Albuquerque Park Oaks winner, Thrilling Escape to battle it out with Amazing As I Am for the early lead. The speedy Chutai who had finished third in the Buccaneer Derby grabbed the third spot here. But going into the backstretch, with Thrilling Escape and Amazing As I Am still going at it, Chutai and the $10 million dollar purchase Tour also went head to head for the third position.

Capricious remained calmly entrenched in the eighth position, even as the horses entered the final sweeping turn, the roar of the grandstand crowd reaching them. Thrilling Escape and Amazing As I Am refused to surrender their positions they had enjoyed most of the race but then the horses entered into the homestretch.

Often the stretch run can seem like a separate race in itself, and suddenly a dust cloud emerged from the back of the pack as Capricious proving herself to be a force of nature began her lethal kick. Her legs moving like pistons, her eyes focused ahead she bore down on the field including the pacesetters whose legs began to feel heavier. As the speedsters began to fold, other horses also kicked it into gear in the final yards but Capricious couldn’t be reined in and scored an important victory.

Big Honor a petite but powerful daughter of Big Gamble (who’s also known for producing milers and routers) seized the second spot in her own stretch drive by ¾ of a length ahead of Kerepakupai Meru who came from nearly last place.
Capricious shook off her race, enjoyed the attention during the winner’s circle ceremony and then grabbed a transport to the Wise Owl Estate to rest up for her next start. But not without catching the eye of Sport of Queens who was heading off to prepare for her own date with destiny.

And she told this year’s Amazon in training, I got my eye on you.

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