Scottish Lassie dazzles winning CCA Oaks by 15+ lengths

Winless since romping in the Frizette (G1) last fall, Scottish Lassie turned things around spectacularly in Saturday’s $465,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga, drawing off to win by 15 1/2 lengths in the 1 1/8-mile test for three-year-old fillies. Joel Rosario picked up the mount on the Jorge Abreu-trained daughter of McKinzie, and Scottish Lassie left the starting gate as the 2.35-1 second choice among four runners.

Champion two-year-old filly Immersive broke on top from her innermost post, but Scottish Lassie was hustled for speed to her immediate outside, taking a clear lead into the first turn as odds-on Immersive was wrestled back to stalk the pacesetter in second. Scottish Lassie showed the way on about a one-length lead through opening splits in :23.81 and :48.09 before beginning to edge away on the far turn, reaching the three-quarters of a mile mare in 1:12.37 with a 2 1/2-length advantage.

The dark bay filly strode away powerfully entering the stretch, quickly eliminating any possible drama, and Scottish Lassie continued to widen her lead while being eased up by Rosario in the latter stages, finishing in 1:50.23.

“Oh my God, this is unbelievable, winning a Grade 1 at Saratoga,” said an emotional Abreu, who was a longtime assistant to trainer Chad Brown before going out on his own in 2016. “Winning a claiming race at Saratoga is big. Imagine a Grade 1. I'm nervous. I'm still nervous. I'm still on cloud nine. I just told Joel to ride his race. I didn't give him any instructions. I just said, ‘ride your race.'"

When on her game, Scottish Lassie appears capable of holding her own versus any member of her division. She’s campaigned by Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photo Finish, Corms Racing Stable, and Abreu.

“She had her ears up and relaxed,” Rosario said. “It was just very nice up there, just like Jorge said. I was worried I was on the lead, but she was doing it easily and nicely, and she was breezing good the last couple of times, so I take it from there after that.”

After finishing third versus maiden special weight rivals in her career debut last September, Scottish Lassie broke her maiden, posting a nine-length upset in the Frizette. She proved no match for Immersive in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) next out, checking in fourth, and wasn’t seen again under silks until returning with a disappointing third versus allowance foes in early May.

Scottish Lassie showed more finishing third to La Cara in the Acorn (G1) on June 6 and thrived making her third start of the season in the CCA Oaks, delivering a career-best performance.

“The important thing is that there are a lot of horses that will win that first Grade 1 as a two-year-old and never develop as three-year-olds,” said Steve Weston of Parkland Thoroughbred. “Everyone says, 'Well, they are a flash in the pan.' By winning the second Grade 1, she proved that she is for real. She proved she is one of the best three-year-old (filly) dirt horses in the world, and it was very satisfying. We are all in this business for value of our fillies. This definitely increases her value and shows the world she is something special. We'll see where we go from here." 

Immersive held the place in her second start of the season, six lengths clear of 11-1 outsider Dry Powder. It was another three lengths to Take Charge Milady in fourth.

Bred in Kentucky by Winchester Farm, Scottish Lassie passed through the sales ring twice, eventually being purchased for $85,000 at last year’s OBS March two-year-old sale. She’s the first stakes winner from the Bodemeister mare Bodebabe and hails from the immediate female family of Grade 1 winners Tara’s Tango and Visionaire. Scottish Lassie has now bankrolled $677,560.

Saratoga will offer the $600,000 Alabama (G1) for three-year-old fillies on Aug. 16, and Abreu said he will “wait a week and see what happens” before deciding whether to pursue the 1 1/4-mile race.