Seven Fillies Vie in Santa Anita Oaks
By: Laurie Ross, Iron Maidens Thoroughbreds
The Santa Anita Oaks (G1) is California’s final prep race for the Kentucky Oaks. The prestigious race has a
spectacular roll call. Superstars who have stood in the winner’s circle include Songbird, Beholder, Stellar Wind, Stardom Bound, Rags to Riches, Balance, Sweet
Catomine, Excellent Meeting, Serena’s Song and Winning Colors.
This year, a competitive field of
seven three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/16 miles. Six of them won or
placed in their last race.
Classy Lassies
ABEL TASMAN (Quality Road - Vargas Girl, by Deputy Minister) made
her three-year-old debut in the Santa Ysabel (G3). Unhurried early, the Bob
Baffert trainee settled three wide, twelve lengths off this year’s superstar,
Unique Bella. Abel Tasman got within a length of her foe, but settled for
second place, eight lengths ahead of the rest of the field. Abel Tasman should
improve in her second start off the layoff and she’s the one of two stalkers in
a race filled with speed.
IT TIZ WELL (Arch - It Tiz, by Tiznow) is looking for her third
straight victory. She has won three of four races since December. Her sole loss
was to her stablemate of Unique Bella. It Tiz Well won the Honeybee Stakes (G3)
at Oaklawn Park in her last start. She’s been breezing well and her speed
figures are improving.
Worth a Look
MOPOTISM (Uncle Mo - Peppy Rafaela, by Bernardini) has won or
placed in five of six starts. She was best of the rest in the Las Virgenes (G2)
when facing Unique Bella, and bested BC Juvinile Fillies heroine Champagne Room
by 1 ¼ lengths. Mopotism returned with a workmanlike win in the Island Fashion
Stakes as her Oaks tune-up. She’s been breezing well and out-worked Santa Anita
Derby entrant Milton Freewater in their last breeze. Mopotism has speed and
will get an inside trip.
Needs Best Effort
MAJESTIC QUALITY (Quality Road - She Nuit All, by Lost Soldier) is
still a maiden after eight attempts. However, she placed second in the Rachel
Alexandra Stakes (G3) at the Fair Grounds after an eventful wide trip. The Keith
Desormeaux trainee is one of those hard luck types. You know the kind, off
slow, bumped, shuffled wide, checked. You name it. She tries hard and hopefully, in a smaller
field, won’t find as much trouble. Majestic Quality will have to overcome a
pace bias and will likely get another wide trip.
It's rare for a venerated trainer
like Richard Mandella to enter a last out maiden winner in a Grade 1 Stakes,
yet here’s PARADISE WOODS (Union
Rags - Wild Forest, by Forest Wildcat). The promising youngster showed improved
speed figures in her first two starts. The drawback is that she’s jumping from
5 ½ furlongs to 1 1/16 miles and taking on lofty company. Paradise Woods worked
an easy seven furlongs in company on March 30 and returned with an easy three-furlong
freshener on April 5. Paradise Woods is a half-sister to the stakes winning
turf sprinter Forest Chatter. Her
unraced dam is half to the G3 stakes winning turf router Tajaaweed. Have to consider that
Papa Mandella knows something the rest of us don’t.
PRINCESS KAREN (Stay Thirsty - Chitka, by Jade Hunter) will give it
her best shot from the outside post. She’s won sprinting against maidens and
optional claimers, but couldn’t keep up with the swift pace in the Santa Ynez
(G2) and faded to finish a dozen lengths behind Unique Bella. Princess Karen is
also stretching to two turns and appears up against it.
BERNINA STAR (Harlan's Holiday - Date to Remember, by Bernardini)
needed seven starts to find the winner’s circle. After plenty of second and
third placed finishes, James Cassidy’s charge put it all together for a nine
length score two starts ago. She was inexplicably switched to turf for her next
outing in the China Doll Stakes and was beaten only 3 ¼ lengths. The filly’s
speed figures are improving but she be mixing it up early with Princess Karen, Mopotism
and possibly Paradise Woods.
Selections:
Only seven entrants and this race looks chalky. ABEL
TASMAN and IT TIZ WELL are the
ones to beat. IT TIZ WELL is a pace presser/setter and will likely get the jump
on her rival. MOPOTISM and with a
good trip, MAJESTIC QUALITY could
figure.
#2 IT TIZ WELL (5-2)
#4 ABEL TASMAN (6-5)
#1 MOPOTISM (6-1)
#6 MAJESTIC QUALITY
(10-1)
Handigambling:
In “real life” I would avoid playing this race due to the
short field and presence of two heavy favorites. The ROI will offer little more
than the cost of the bet. Best case scenario is a few WP bets on longshots in
hopes of an upset.
$4 Super Box: #2, #4, #1, #6 = $48
$4 W/P at 4-1 or greater odds: #6, #1, #3 = $24
$28 for lunch or to bet on the Santa Anita Derby.
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