BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Graded stakes-placed on turf last year as a sophomore, Florida-bred Decadent attempts to improve her black-type credentials Friday at Oaklawn Park in the $135,000 Trivista overnight stakes scheduled for a mile-and-one-sixteenth on dirt. Trained by Ken McPeek for Magdalena Racing, Savvy Stables and Steve Dervenis, Decadent has post four in the field of eight fillies and mares that have never won a stakes outside state-bred or restricted company.
A first-out winner of a seven-furlong maiden special weight on a sloppy track at Gulfstream Park in December of 2024, Decadent remained undefeated with a three-length victory in her second start, a first level, $100,000 optional claiming for fillies going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Oaklawn in March of last year.
After a more than five-month break, Decadent was unsuccessful in her return, finishing tenth of 13 in the $200,000 Cathryn Sophia (Listed) going a mile-and-70 yards at Parx Racing but produced her best effort to date in her next start. She earned a career best 80 Beyer Speed Figure when third in the Grade 3 Winter Memories going a mile on the inner turf during the Belmont at Big A meet at Aqueduct in September. She finished a deceiving seventh next out in the Grade 2 Sands Point at nine furlongs over the same course on October 18 after she was forced seven-wide in the turn for home then made up ground in the stretch to finish less than four-and-three-quarters lengths behind winner Ready for Candy, producing a 77 Beyer number.
Decadent has leveled off in her last three starts going back to November, with two runner-up finishes in second condition, optional claiming races for fillies and a fifth in the $135,000 Oaklawn Anywhere overnight stakes on December 28. Last out she was just a length-and-a-half off winner Legal Express in a $62,500 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth in the slop at Oaklawn on February 15.
By Girvin out of One More Minute by Istan, Decadent was bred in Florida by the late Brereton C. Jones. She has two wins, two seconds and a third in eight starts while earning $195,720.
Francisco Arrieta will ride and Decadent is listed at 12-1 on the morning line.
Mark Casse trains Nerazurri, winner of two of her last three including the $135,000 Oaklawn Sport overnight stakes on New Year’s Day two starts back. In one start since, the 4-year-old daughter of Protonico was second to 2025 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Nitrogen in the Grade 3 Bayakoa at Oaklawn on February 7.
Nerazurri is owned by Michael H. Eiserman and has earned $300,000 from four wins in 14 career starts.
Casse will leg up Cristian Torres on Nerazurri and they are set to begin from post two.
Others entered are Home Game and jockey Ramon Vazquez, Seraphia with Erik Asmussen named to ride, Rafael Bejarano has the mount on In Just My Heels, Peignoir will have Luis Saez in the saddle, Jaime Torres will guide Rose Palace and Gowells Delight has Emmanuel Esquivel taking the riding chores.
Return to the February 25 issue of Wire to Wire
