CALIFORNIA OAKS
Full Field Of Young Ladies In Cal Oaks
2083.0115 BY BADASBOOTS
This Saturdays “California Oaks” has attracted a classy feild of fourteen sophmore fillies to do battle for the bulky $400,000 purse. The skys are clearing as we speak and the forcast is for low seventies sunshine for this mile and a sixteenth event on the dirt track. Many of these fillies have penciled in a May trip to Kentucky and will be hoping to pull out their ink pens after this affair. The morning line gives us an indication that this event is somewhat wide open, as the favorite Zytown is at 5-1 and the longest shot on the board is only 23-1. Let’s see if we can separate some these ladys.
1> STREET AWAY(Ire) [theatrical] 15-1> This miss ships way accross the Atlantic for this race. The level of talent signed on in here is quickly indicated by the fact that she’s never been off the board in her nine lifetime starts and is 15-1. Most of her early success has come on the sod, but she’s shown some recent ability to handle to dirt.
She easily won an open allowance and ran evenly to garner third in her last race, a Grade One. Both of those races were at this distance and she can’t be overlooked. Maybe.
2> JUNGLE MIESQUE TOS [flurgen4] 16-1> Faded in the lane in her first turf try in the last. While we can excuse that one, she doesn’t show the number that might be needed to take down these in any of her prior dirt runs. With that said, horses often run their best races with the turf to dirt move and she might show some signifcant improvement here. I don’t think that this a good spot for for an 0 for 12 jock to get his first win though. Doubtful.
3> ARMED WITH MONEY [monksfield] 10-1> This overachiever has elated her connections. She was a modest two-year purchase and has been consistently improving, knocking down the Grade Three door in her last race. She’s exciting to watch with her late running style and with some speeds signed on here she could make her presence felt in the stretch. Using.
4> GROOMED TO ROMP T [pick6] 8-1> She’s got some gas and comes in off a Grade Two third when on the engine in her last. She’s always well bet and has faced of the stiffest competition of the lot. But she’s got some knocks. She hasn’t won in over six months. She’s never won beyond six furlongs. And she looks like she needs to wire the field to win this and she’ll face a couple of other speeds in here. She deserves to be here, but it would surprise me if she wins.
5> NORTHERN RED(Aus) [jockeymax] 7-1> She’s got some of the better numbers and has fared well against Graded sorts. I like her running style, nice and even, with a touch of speed. Only off the board once and never in the distance game. Ironic that with this trainers name that he would land the #1 rider. A must use.
6> AMAZING DISCOVERY(Ire) [isittrue] 17-1> Posted her best number in her last… at this track and distance, in a Grade Three. She was dismantled in her prior race, against Grade One stock simular to these. Trainer has been patient and has her well rested for this. But… she would be a surprise to me here.
7> FU FU MASCUS(Ire) [freeky] 8-1> She’s got pretty consistent numbers in her corner, but her best races have come sprinting. Her only route races have been against the best, both Grade Ones, where she wasn’t disgraced. That last race was a decent effort against “Equinics” foes. Could be the “Surprise Packgage” here.
8> WALLY’S DEHERE [doa] 11-1> She almost upset the apple cart in the “John Longdon” Equinics Sprint in her last, flying late to just miss. That gives her the highest speed figure in this field. But, that was a “sprint” and she hasn’t proven that she can beat these routing yet. She did win her only fast track route two back, demolishing a Stakes group at this distance. Nice price for solid contender.
9> LOUD VICTORY [anymore] 23-1> She’s a “wild card” here. She just lasted to best a small field in a minor Stakes race, winning her third straight last time out. This is a “significant” jump in class. But I like her to give the other speeds fits, even if I don’t see her lasting.
10> ZYTOWN [zyro] 5-1> This miss is the deserved favorite, coming off an Equinics win in the “Isaac Murphy” distaff. She’s won at all the Graded levels and distances offered to her. No matter the outcome of this event, she’s the only one in here with an invite to the ‘BIG DANCE’ in May before this. The one to deny.
11> WHIP SMART [wistful] 7-1> She’s got a solid record against some tough competition, but would still need to run her lifetime best to beat the best of these. All those nice runs at the Grade Two level are sure to attract some attention, but do we see a chance for improvement? No… but if it were an off track I’d run to the windows.
12> SOLUTIONS [kdiv] 13-1> She makes the long trip back to the states and her numbers, while consistent, are the lightest of the light in this race. Only one finish on the board routing, that was two back against a small field. She looks better suited at the short game and I’m leaving her off my tickets.
13> WANGO TANGO [zewango4] 10-1> She’s just getting started and has produced some solid numbers so far. But now she stretches out for the first time, against Grade One routers no dought! She’s got the distance breeding to run with these and I think she’ll give those intent on the lead fits. Her inexperience invisions me placing her second… at a price.
14> WHY DID YOU STOP(Ire) [unreal] 11-1> I don’t what to think of this in and outter. She won the “Hello, Goodbye” in impressive fashion and then came back to run a so, so sixth last time out. She’s still learning the game, but it would surprise me to see her picture taken here.
My Picks: 10/13/8-5 “Just My Opinion” badasboots
NOTE: I now remember why retired from writing for the SIM… this is hard work!!! You guys should really thank your lucky stars that there are some “GREAT” people out there that would spend 2 or 3 hours doing this… Peace>>>