Como Square is the value play in the Martha Washington Stakes

A compact field of six sophomore fillies will aim to earn qualifying points in Saturday’s $200,000 Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/16-mile affair acts as a 2022 Road to the Kentucky Oaks challenge series race, with the top four finishers garnering points on a 10-4-2-1 structure.

Three horses are expected to take the majority of the money in the contest, including #3 Como Square (5-2), who is my top pick. Trained by Brad Cox, the twice-raced Into Mischief filly is unbeaten from a pair of sprint outings to start her career and will stretch out for the initial time. The Shortleaf Stable homebred has displayed the closing kick when going short to give the impression of a filly who will thrive going longer.

Como Square is a half-sister to Grade-1 placed stakes winner Caddo River, who was second in the 2021 Arkansas Derby (G1), and she has put in a trio of fine morning moves on the surface in advance of her route debut on Saturday. I think that the dark bay will be closer to a moderate pace in this spot, prior to edging clear late at a fair number. John Velazquez inherits the mount, and while 5-2 is not a huge number, I expect her price to float up some nearing post time.

The horse to beat in my opinion is #6 Secret Oath (2-1), who was a dynamic allowance victress on the surface in her latest endeavor. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, the chestnut daughter of Arrogate looks like an excellent prospect who will excel this campaign with continued experience. The Kentucky-bred signaled her readiness for Saturday with a bullet half-mile move on the course most recently.

#4 Optionality (9-5) is in fine form following a trio of dominant wins in succession for Steve Asmussen. The Gun Runner bay has never missed the board in her six career lifetime tries, and the bay aced her initial route test at Remington Park last time out. Ricardo Santana, Jr. will guide the two-time stakes heroine.

Martha Washington Value Plays

• $20 win #3 Como Square ($20)
• $10 trifecta key 3 with 4, 6 ($20)
• $2 superfecta 3 with 6 with 4 with all ($6)