NYRA announced Saturday that Laurelin maintained her perfect record with an impressive victory in the Grade II Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational at Saratoga Race Course.
The undefeated 3-year-old filly, trained by Graham Motion, captured her fifth consecutive win and first graded stakes triumph with a powerful stretch run under jockey Kendrick Carmouche.
Previously spotlighted in TDN Europe’s “Making Waves” series after breaking her maiden at first asking during the Belmont At The Big A meet last October, Laurelin has steadily built an impressive resume. The bay filly won the Tepin Stakes at Aqueduct in November, followed by the Memories of Silver Stakes in April, and added the Penn Oaks in June.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the betting, Laurelin settled comfortably in the second flight around the first turn. She maintained position through the backstretch before Carmouche asked her for a three-wide move around the far turn.
The daughter of Zarak powered down the stretch, overtaking heavily favored Opulent Restraint inside the eighth pole to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Longshot Evershed (14-1) rallied for second, with Opulent Restraint settling for third.
“It was pretty darn impressive,” said Ian Wilson, assistant trainer to Graham Motion. “Kendrick just gave her an absolutely fabulous ride. Every time he rides her, I tell him afterwards, he just gets on really well with this filly.”
Wilson expressed amazement at the filly’s undefeated record.
“That’s hard to believe, really,” he said. “You don’t take any of the wins for granted and to have a filly that has won her first five starts in a row is unbelievable.”
Following the race, Go Go Boots, who finished fourth for owner Bobby Flay and trainer Miguel Clement, was vanned off the course for evaluation. The Clement Stable later reported “no fracture” but noted a “need to assess possible soft tissue damage,” adding the filly was “resting comfortable in her stall.”
Pedigree Notes
Laurelin’s sire Zarak (by Dubawi) now has 21 worldwide higher-level victories to his credit. She represents his second graded stakes winner in North America, following Parnac’s victory in the GII Flower Bowl Stakes at Saratoga in 2023.
The winner’s dam, Bari, has produced three winners from six foals, including Irish listed race victress Maud Gonne Spirit. Bari’s last registered foal is a current 2-year-old colt by Space Blues.
Laurelin’s extended female line includes G1 Investec Epsom Oaks heroine Talent.
Owned by Newstead Stables LLC and bred by M.H. Dixon & Mount Coote Estates, Laurelin was purchased for €160,000 as a yearling at Goffs. Her lifetime record now stands at 5-5-0-0 with earnings of $571,250.
LAURELIN remains undefeated!
She is now 5-for-5 after her win in the Grade 2 @FasigTiptonCo Saratoga Oaks Invitational with @KendrickCarmou1 up for trainer @GrahamMotion. pic.twitter.com/oWtj3IvndH
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA)
LAURELIN remains undefeated!
She is now 5-for-5 after her win in the Grade 2 August 9, 2025
