Kicking into high gear to split foes near the $125,000 Crescent City Oaks wire, Platinum Minit’s bold move was stymied by Clearly a Test who crossed the finish line first on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Inquiry and objections quickly went up and the stewards ruled Clearly a Test interfered with Platinum Minit’s impressive surge, and the filly who walked over from Dallas Stewart’s barn was declared the statebred Oaks champion.

“She’s a tiny little thing but she has a big heart,” Stewart said. “I’m lucky that Mr. [Murray] Valene sends me these great fillies.”

Platinum Minit was guided by last year’s leading jockey Reylu Gutierrez.

Post-time favorite Lightofmaine pressed Sister Ella who set quick early fractions of :23.32 and :47.97. Platinum Minit broke sharply but relaxed to settle on the rail, letting a pocket form around her before tipping out to the center of track to begin her rally. Having tracked the forward fillies through the far turn, Clearly a Test emerged with promise at the top of the stretch but proved green drifting out and finally back in to interfere with Platinum Minit’s late surge. Disqualified from first, Clearly a Test was placed second. Late charger Emily’s Bullet got up for third.

“She settled nicely early on for me,” Gutierrez said. “At the end I wasn’t sure if she’d split the horses but when I asked she did. This filly has a ton of heart and all credit goes to Mr. Valene and Dallas Stewart.”

Though they had to sweat out a steward’s decision, Platinum Minit’s backers breathed a $8.60, $4.00, and $3.00 sigh of relief once the ruling came.

The daughter of Givemeaminit who broke her maiden in an allowance, now has 2 wins from 7 starts and $136,525 in the bank.