Some familiar fillies face La Cara in the Coaching Club American Oaks of 2025 as she seeks another Grade I at Saratoga Race Course in Upstate New York. Mark Casse’s charge meets five rivals on the Spa track’s dirt in this $500,000 invitational race over 1,800m on Saturday, July 19.
Fresh from her Acorn Stakes success during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival that has moved out the Big Apple while Belmont Park has its renovation work done, La Cara has now twice gone gate to wire around Saratoga Springs and won races. After proving herself a smart juvenile, the daughter of Street Sense enjoyed a Grade I breakthrough this spring.
That came in the Ashland Stakes around Keeneland where La Cara held re-opposing second Take Charge Milady by a length. This pair now meet again off 4lb better terms for Kenneth McPeek’s runner and the barn won the Coaching Club American Oaks 12 months ago with Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Thorpedo Anna.
Both La Cara and Take Charge Milady disappointed in the Kentucky Oaks, finishing way down the field, but have since demonstrated that wasn’t their true running. The latter isn’t the only rival for Casse to worry about either. Also in the line-up is Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Immersive working her way back from a break.
Brad Cox has two wins in the Coaching Club American Oaks since 2018, so the Godolphin filly is in good hands. Immersive missed the other big three-year-old females only races during the first half of this season, but could well now make up for lost time. She should strip fitter for return to action when conceding fitness to Take Charge Milady.
Scottish Lassie, Wilton 1-2 Complete Line-Up
Just a neck separated Immersive from the re-opposing winner but, like La Cara, she now gives McPeek’s filly 4lb for her past Grade I triumphs. These revised weights favor Take Charge Milady, but how top Belmont Stakes racebooks price up this race in practice is another matter.
Jorge Abreu’s Scottish Lassie just missed the show during the Breeders’ Cup in the fall, but made the top three in the Acorn. It’s tough to see how the McKinzie filly can achieve this again, however, on her Del Mar and Saratoga runs. There is another form line away from the favored females for bettors to consider, however.
Just a head separated Cherie DeVaux filly Sweet Seraphine and Dry Powder from the Chad Summers barn in the Wilton Stakes over 1,600m at Aqueduct. Both try Grade I company and an extra furlong for the first time in the Coaching Club American Oaks of 2025 here.
Both have no worries about this test on pedigree. Sweet Seraphine is a filly by Quality Road, who won the Woodward Stakes over this course and distance a decade-and-a-half ago. Dry Powder, meanwhile, has a sire in Gun Runner that landed the same race impressively seven years later.
It is more a matter of whether these fillies can hang with the established three-year-olds, rather than any breeding concerns. An on-song Immersive, who struck three times at Grade I level as a juvenile, definitely poses a problem for the field. With her, it is about finding out if she still all her old ability after that setback.
Coaching Club American Oaks 2025 Post Positions Draw & Morning Line Odds
- Immersive (122lbs) – 8-5 fav
- Sweet Seraphine (118lbs) – 8-1
- Scottish Lassie (122lbs) – 8-1
- Take Charge Milady (118lbs) – 9-2
- Dry Powder (118lbs) – 12-1
- La Cara (122lbs) – 2-1
Our Handicapper’s Verdict
The issue with La Cara is she goes from the front, but it’s not always easy to get those fractions right. Take Charge Milady must be on bettors’ minds off these revised terms for a barn that saddled last year’s winner, but Immersive could well emerge as a force in the second half of the campaign now she’s had a run.
No other filly hit a hat-trick as a juvenile at Grade I level last season; so, provided she trains on from her return, she’s the one to beat. Godolphin dominated the first half of the season with Good Cheer, who then disappointed in the Acorn, but they have another smart female who should see out this far just fine.
WATCH: La Cara Go Gate to Wire in Acorn Stakes
