Florida-bred Wildwood Bye returns to her favorite track for Saturday’s $150,000 Mistletoe Stakes going a mile at Oaklawn Park, part of a seven-horse field featuring multiple graded stakes performers.
The five-year-old daughter of Khozan out of the Congrats mare Wave Bye Bye, bred by Brent and Crystal Fernung, has banked over $255,000 in her career with seven wins from 22 starts. Purchased for $33,000 at the OBS Winter Mixed Sale, she’s put together a productive 2024 campaign for trainer Scott Becker and owner William Stiritz with two wins from seven starts and earnings of $139,047.
After winning a one-mile allowance at Oaklawn in April, Wildwood Bye has shown versatility by cutting back to sprints at Fairmount Park. She scored a determined victory there in May going six furlongs and most recently finished a game third at the same distance on October 19. Francisco Arrieta, aboard for several of her Oaklawn starts earlier this year, reunites with the mare as she stretches back out to a mile.
Morning line favorite Taxed (8-5) enters off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs for trainer Randy Morse and owner Richard Bahde. The four-year-old daughter of Collected, winner of the 2023 Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, has earned $745,894 while competing primarily in graded stakes company. Cristian Torres has the mount.
Deck of Cards looms a major threat at 5-2 for trainer Mike Maker and owners M and M Racing and Jordan Rubenstein. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Nyquist out of the War Front mare Mother of Swords brings a sharp form cycle into the race, having won four consecutive starts between June and September, including two at Saratoga, before a third last out at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Bred by Springhouse Farm & Hunter Valley Farm, the five-year-old mare has won eight of 12 career starts while banking $243,693. Ramon Vazquez has the call.
Corningstone is listed at 3-1 for trainer Kenny McPeek, while Stellar Lily and Tapit Jenallie are 8-1 and 12-1, respectively. Bow Draw rounds out the field at 20-1.
The Mistletoe Stakes will go as race nine on the Saturday card with a 5:14 p.m. ET expected post time.
