Welcome to sunny California where this week we see a double header of Grade I races, including the prestigious $300,000 California Oaks.
To be run over a mile and 1\/16 on a fast dirt track, a full field of 14 runners will assemble for a shot at being named top ranked 3yo filly in their division.
Previous winners of the race include TERMINAL VELOCITY (2011), HARD INDIAN (2010), ARMED WITH MONEY (2006) and EDGE HOPPER (2004).<\/p>\n
PP1 LUCAS RANCH(CA) (FLAME THROWER x VINDICATION x STORM BIRD) padrebri5 11\/1
Scratch bred filly who has often been a bridesmaid in the big races, storming home when it\u2019s all too late, and so far has not been able to break through for a stakes win. Last start she showed vast improvement on her SP rating, when just missing the placings in the Grade III Devola Dane South, coming from 10 lengths behind at the half way mark to get to within 2 on the line. She will meet the winner of that race again in this, so will need a big effort to turn the tables. She dominated a restricted allowance race at starts ago, when finishing over the top to score a length win. Yet to prove that she is up to winning in this class, but if she can improve further on her previous run, she is a chance to finally take the next step.<\/p>\n
PP2 THE KINGBREAKER(KY) (PULPIT x NUREYEV x FORTY NINER) fairhaven5 10\/1
Massive run last time out in the Grade III Devola Dane South, when coming from second last to hit the front right on the line with an SP 99. Before that she finished off well without really threatening the winner, placing third in the Fame or Fortune Dirt Filly Mile. A winner of three of her six starts, she is yet to finish off the board, and has been beaten only once since stepping up to a mile. Further improvement from her last start should see her right in the finish again at generous odds.<\/p>\n
PP3 NEW YORK ESCAPE(AUS) (HUSSONET x A.P. INDY x RIVERMAN) wistful2 10\/1
The unknown quantity of the field is this Aussie bred filly, who is switching surfaces for her first try on dirt, and coming back sharply in distance from her previous start. Was positioned nicely last time out, but was left flat footed and never looked a winning chance when 4th in the Grade III Tristan Fillies. Dominated a listed stakes two starts ago when she settled back just worse than midfield and stormed home to win by 4 lengths. Finished well back in her two tries in Grade Is before that. Her dam was a stakes winner on dirt, and has foaled 2 graded stakes winners from her crop of 9 runners. Could be the surprise packet if she handles the change in conditions.<\/p>\n
PP4 ESTRADA(KY) (CURLIN x A.P. INDY x STORM CAT) usoz 5\/1
A powerful burst saw her score another Graded win last time out, at this track, in the Los Vinegrette Stakes. Before that she just fell short by a \u00bc length in the Grade I Movieland Starlet, and 3 starts ago she was runner up in the Breeders\u2019 Bowl Juvenile Filly. A winner of 3 Graded stakes races last year over sprint distances, she has now won over $1.1 mil in prizemoney. The second top ranked filly in all divisions on dirt, she shapes up as the one to beat again here.<\/p>\n
PP5 BOX OF TIME(IRE) (MONTJEU (IRE) x KINGMAMBO x PLEASANT COLONY) super27 18\/1
Full sister to multiple Grade I winner ARTEMIS AND APOLLO, who has already notched a stakes win of her own, and who came within \u00bc length of scoring another one in the Grade II Golden Red Stakes two starts ago. Stepped up in distance last time out in the Goldenbridled Dirt Filly Route when she finished strongly, but never threatened to be well beaten by 3 lengths. Was well beaten at her only try in a Grade I, when finishing 4th, and almost 7 lengths from the winner in the Dell Computer Debutante. The drop back in distance suits, and if she can run up to her effort 2 starts back, she could be a place chance.<\/p>\n
PP6 FLEETWOOD FLEURY(KY) (ANY GIVEN SATURDAY x STRIKE THE GOLD x SEATTLE SLEW) jeter 13\/1
Broke through for her first stakes victory last start when she improved sharply from her previous run, to score in the Voleur Du Nord Dirt Filly Route with an SP 97. Before that she was outgunned in the Grade I Movieland Starlet, where she could not improve on her midfield position throughout. Ran on strongly in an owner restricted residency stakes race 3 starts ago, when she finished 2nd to SECRET SHUFFLER. From a Grade I winning mare, and appears to have the class to match it in this grade. Should go well.<\/p>\n
PP7 TUNS O’ FUN(KY) (DISTORTED HUMOR x STORM CAT x SEATTLE SLEW) papracing 8\/1
Lightly raced scratch bred filly who started her career in a blaze of glory, firstly by dominating her debut MSW start to win by 3 \u00bd lengths in open company, and then followed it up with a classy \u00bd length win in the Grade III The Adam\u2019s Apple. Has had 2 more starts, both here in Grade Is at this track in California, and although she has continued to build on her SPs, she has missed the board on both occasions. Needs to improve more rapidly on her previous few starts to figure in the finish against this field, but has proven she is up to graded company, and would not surprise to see her go close.<\/p>\n
PP8 DAY OF PROSPERITY(KY) (CORINTHIAN x FORTY NINER x DEPUTY MINISTER) mtkholding 8\/1
Did her best work at the finish last time out in the Grade III The SilverBulletBeer, but was well beaten in 7th placing, and 6 lengths from the winner. Was the best of the late closers 2 starts ago when dropping back in distance in the Grade II Yanta Snez Stakes, running on strongly to finish 3rd. Ran a career best SP of 95 before that in the Blazing Saddles Breeder\u2019s Showdown Juvenile Fillies, when she was nosed out on the line to run 2nd. Has not won since she strung together 4 successive wins in her first 4 starts back in June 2011. Has been thereabouts, and is a place chance again.<\/p>\n
PP9 LEGAL EMBRACE(KY) (STORMY ATLANTIC x SAINT BALLADO x CARSON CITY) elzid 8\/1
Scratch bred filly who has shown steady improvement in each of her last 3 starts, beginning with a strong run home to finish 2nd in the Grade III The ThxMsSlew. She followed that up with a dominant display in the Grade II Yanta Snez Stakes, when she charged to the front soon after entering the stretch, and built on her lead to score by 1 \u00be lengths. Last start she ran a career best SP 98, when she led into the stretch, but was run down on the line to finish 3rd in a blanket finish in the Grade III Davola Dane South. Has been mixing with the best company and looks well placed to threaten again here.<\/p>\n
PP10 INCREDIBLE SHOW(KY) (AWESOME AGAIN x GONE WEST x SUMMER SQUALL) tg1 8\/1
Settled last in the Grade I Vermont Is 4 Lovers over 9 furlongs and finished off strongly to beat home all but one in her most recent start. Before that she was just tipped out in a three way finish in the Grade I Movieland Starlet, when she stormed home from the back of the field to just miss by \u00bd length. Was outgunned in the Breeders\u2019 Bowl Juvenile Filly, but has improved greatly since that run, and is proven in this class and at this distance, with her win in the Grade I Walnut Tree Stakes. Looks a likely contender again, and will be sure to make her presence felt.<\/p>\n
PP11 FOREVER REMEMBER(KY) (BELONG TO ME x RED RANSOM x CRAFTY PROSPECTOR) foxon2 25\/1
The outsider of the field has gotten better and better with each step up in distance, and last start won convincingly in a NW2L Allowance with an SP 93 over a mile. Prior to that, she cruised to a win against 3 other runners in her MSW over 7 furlongs. Two close 2nd placings preceded that in her first 2 starts over short sprinting distances. Has yet to come up against a field of this class, but last 2 starts have been encouraging. Continued improvement could see her sneak into the placings.<\/p>\n
PP12 MADE INDY USA(KY) (A.P. INDY x STORM CAT x ALYDAR) mtkindy 10\/1
The likely leader of the race has been gradually stepping up the grades and proving very hard to beat, coming here off a hatrick of wins. Last time out she jumped away quickly, and was never headed, cruising to a 1 \u00bc length win in the Grade III The SilverBulletBeer. Before that, she opened up a 4 \u00bd length lead at the top of the stretch and just lasted in the Shaky Legs Dirt Juvenile Fillies to hold on by a neck. Any improvement on her last start SP 100 would see her go close to adding to her already impressive credentials and should be in front for a long way.<\/p>\n
PP13 OLD ENGLISH(ENG) (OASIS DREAM (GB) x ALYDAR x NIJINSKY II) ginkakuji 18\/1
Huge class rise for this up and coming scratch bred filly, who last start revelled with the extra distance to lead all the way over 9.5 furlongs, running an SP 93 in a NW2L Allowance. Prior to that she was run down in the stretch, finishing 2nd, beaten by 2 \u00bd lengths, and was disappointing 3 starts ago when she failed to reach the lead and finished midfield, both in NW2L Allowances. Drops back in distance, and up in class, and would have to improve greatly to test this top class field.<\/p>\n
PP14 SECRET SHUFFLER(KY) (SPEIGHTSTOWN x AWESOME AGAIN x TIZNOW) magpies2 10\/1
Winning streak was finally broken last time out in the Grade I Los Vinagrette Stakes, when she jumped away quickly and sat just off the speed, but was unable to peg back the leader, eventually finishing 3rd to ESTRADA. Before that she was again stalking the leaders, before she surged through to score a \u00bd length win in the Grade III Reflection Futurity. She beat home FLEETWOOD FLEURY in winning an owner restricted residency stakes race 3 starts ago over this track and distance. Has won 5 of her 6 career starts and should get a perfect trail behind the leaders again here. Big chance.<\/p>\n
Selections:
1st PP4 ESTRADA(KY)
2nd PP12 MADE INDY USA(KY)
3rd PP14 SECRET SHUFFLER(KY)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Fillies to Fly in Sunny California<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":219,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10041","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/219"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10041"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10041\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}