By My Standards lacks the cachet of some older males, mainly because he has yet to score a Grade 1 victory. The multiple Grade 2 winner must go elsewhere for that chance but who can argue with his Oaklawn record: two spring visits, two stakes wins.
If Fair Grounds, where he won the Louisiana Derby in 2019 and the New Orleans Handicap last yea,r be his favorite track, Oaklawn runs a close second. On this Hot Springs visit, By My Standards got the nod in a photo finish with Rushie in the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile.
That victory came earlier (May 2) but with a race under him. Saturday's triumph came off the bench.
In his first start since the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs, By My Standards rolled down the middle of the track under Gabriel Saez and nosed out Richie in 1:37.82. By My Standards, paying $6.80 to win, was second choice in the betting to 9-5 Rushie, who since winning an allowance race on the Arkansas Derby undercard at Oaklawn took the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs.
Wells Bayou, a third 2020 Oaklawn meet winner, took the show spot, the top three each carrying 124 pounds. Wells Bayou, last year's Louisiana Derby winner for Brad Cox, had made only one start, because of bone bruising, since placing fifth in his division of the Arkansas Derby.
By My Standards moved five wide on the second turn to reach striking position, Pioneer Spirit taking the early lead from Rushie when Joel Rosario backed off the latter. Moving inside through space that seemed wide enough for a stagecoach, Rushie was a length in front at the top of the lane.
Vic Stauffer, from the announcer's booth, called it too close to call as By My Standards, from outside, and Rushie hit the wire together. Saez and his mount posed for the photographer after the first picture revealed By My Standards as the narrowest of winners.
Trained by Bret Calhoun, By My Standards has a lifetime mark of 15-7-4-1. Owned by Allied Racing Stable and Spendthrift Farm, the bay horse has bankrolled $2,069,430.
Edgeway impressive in Carousel victory
Back where it started last year for the Competitive Edge filly, Edgeway scored her third Oaklawn victory and first in a stakes in the $250,000 Carousel.
Ridden confidently by Joel Rosario, the 4-year-old led into the stretch after a three-wide move and held off even-money favorite Frank's Rockette by three quarters. Getting a 5-pound break from the multiple Grade 2 winner behind her, Edgeway carried 119 pounds through six furlongs in 1:10.13 in the first of four Oaklawn stakes on Derby Day.
The Kentucky-bred winner brought $275,000 at an Ocala, Florida, sale in February of her 2-year-old season. Southern California mogul Kosta Hronis owns Edgeway and watched her win at first asking in the Feb. 29, 2020, Oaklawn opener. The Carousel win marks a measure of revenge for a third-place finish to Frank's Rockette in her last start, the $100K Purple Martin April 4.
Trained by John Sadler, Edgeway won an optional claimer here last April 26 and made only one more start at 3. Sadler brought the filly here for her second start against older horses off a three-length Santa Anita victory Feb. 7.
Frank's Rockette, a homebred daughter of hot sire Into Mischief owned by central Arkansas automobile dealer Frank Fletcher, won by 1 1/4 lengths over veteran Amy's Challenge in Oaklawn's Jan. 30 American Beauty, the winner's 4-year-old debut. She finished last year in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint (won by Oaklawn icon Whitmore), Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott pitting her against males after back-to-back Grade 2 sprint victories in New York.
With Florent Geroux riding, Frank's Rockette settled for second after a minor stretch bid against Edgeway. Casual, a Jan. 29 meet winner for Steve Asmussen, was 1 1/4 lengths farther back in third off her Spring Fever second to Kimari here Feb. 27.
Now with a 6-4-1-1 record, Edgeway almost equaled her previous earnings with $150,000 from the Carousel. Wildwood's Beauty, Best Kept Secret and Mucho Amor completed the field.