Played Hard turns back Secret Oath to win La Troienne

In the moments before the dream scenario of Philip Bauer’s career materialized before a hometown crowd that ran deep into the thousands on Friday, the surreal nature of it all nearly turned into a nightmare for the Louisville native.

The atmosphere on the Churchill Downs backstretch on Kentucky Oaks day can be one part party, one part nerves, and in the frenzy of noise and celebration around him, Bauer missed the initial call to bring his filly Played Hard to the paddock for the Grade 1, $750,000 La Troienne Stakes. A would-be crisis was averted as the trainer and his team hustled the 5-year-old mare to the stall in time to get her tack on and leg up jockey John Velazquez.

From there, the daughter of Into Mischief went about sparking another surge in heart rate for her team, this one for far more enjoyable reasons.

The goal of feting his first career Grade 1 win in 2023 was achieved in dramatic fashion for Bauer on Friday when the veteran distaffer Played Hard turned back a challenge from 2022 Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath to prevail by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile La Troienne for older fillies and mares.

When the result was allowed to stand after a jockey’s objection by Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard Secret Oath, Bauer found himself bouncing from one celebratory embrace to the next in the wake of his first top-level triumph. He came into the race unsure he had Played Hard’s form tight enough for her first start since taking the Falls City Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in November. Add the pre-race drama to the mix and there were plenty of excuses he could have called upon if one of the more heralded foes had gotten the best of his protégé.

Just as she convinced her trainer she was ready for this test with her display of energy in training, Played Hard made a compelling argument to add her name to the list of top contenders in a depth-laden division.

“I really honestly didn’t think we had her 100 percent cranked today. This is all her,” Bauer said. “I felt like we could have done a little more, but you don’t want to squeeze the lemon too hard coming off the layoff. But she trained herself into the race. We talked about waiting until June, but we put her in company a few times and she just handled it real well.”

“It’s overwhelming to be here right now. This is special. This is what we’re in this sport for, and I dreamt about this. I don’t know how to sum it up now, it’s pretty awesome.”

Owned by Rigney Racing, Played Hard had knocked heads with top-class company in previous outings, running fifth in the 2021 Alabama Stakes (G1) and posting a third-place finish behind champion Malathaat in last year’s Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. The bay mare had earned both of her prior graded wins at Churchill Downs, her first being a triumph in the Locust Grove (G3) last September, and she certainly acted like she owned the place on Friday once she made it on the scene.

“You know, ordinary life doesn’t exist for the people on the backside Derby week, and somehow we missed the call (to come to the paddock),” Bauer grinned. “But we got there in time to get the tack on and send her right out. Then (jockey) Johnny Velazquez just rode her to a tee. The key to this filly is to sit the trip and take the trip, and he did a marvelous job.”

Sent off at 8-1 odds, Played Hard indeed got the ideal run in the La Troienne as Velazquez rated her just off pacesetter Society in second with Search Results to her inside through fractions of 23.53 and 47.28 seconds over a track rated fast. Played Hard loomed up on the final turn and took command at the head of the lane, but she had Secret Oath coming with her kick on the outside as Search Results tried to dig in along the rail.

#1 Played Hard fought hard to hold off last year's #KyOaks champion #4 Secret Oath and win the La Troienne Stakes on #KyOaks Day @ChurchillDowns!

Trainer: Philip Bauer

Owner: Rigney Racing LLC

— TwinSpires Racing ?? (@TwinSpires) May 5, 2023

Played Hard drifted out during the stretch run, and she and Secret Oath brushed down the lane. But the former had enough mettle to maintain the advantage as she stopped the Teletimer at 1:42.48.

“She’s very brave. All the credit goes to Mr. Phil Bauer and his team,” Velazquez said. “She’s been working really good, and I didn’t know if she had enough to beat Secret Oath today. But she put in a couple of good works here. I knew she was going to run well. The whole team did such a great job to get her ready after a long layoff and to run with this horse.”

Added Gaffalione on the objection, “Honestly, it felt a lot worse than it looked. My filly must have been getting tired at that point, and we came together. I had pretty good position going into the first turn, then we ran into traffic and a lot of shuffling. So I didn’t want to get myself in a bad spot, so I got her out of there. She’s got such a tremendous kick that I wanted to rely on that.” 

Played Hard returned $19.86, $7.02 and $4.24 for the win. Secret Oath returned $3.90 and $2.64 and finished a half-length in front of Search Results, who paid $3.54 to show.

“She ran her heart out,” trainer D. Wayne Lukas said of Secret Oath. “I think that little brush broke her momentum just enough that her stride changed a little bit. I can see why they left it up, but I can see why they’d take it down. It was a tough call by the stewards.”

Bred by Susan Casner, Played Hard improved her record to six wins from 15 starts and went over the seven-figure mark earnings-wise with a bankroll of $1,420,140.

“Our first Grade 1 and first millionaire. We knew we could accomplish that as well, and it just makes it all that much sweeter that we got the job done,” Bauer said. “We’ll enjoy this one. Our goal this year was a Grade 1, so it’s icing on the cake the rest of the way. She’s proven herself now, the way she ran today.”