SAR Oaks ($625.000 Purse)
SAR- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Turf
August 16, 2020

Last year marked the first time that the SAR Oaks was run, providing an excellent opportunity for three year old fillies who are just beginning to show that they belong as top contenders for the BC Fillies and Mares Turf later in the year. That would be the thought anyway, but only one horse actually ended up going from this race to F & M Turf, and it was not the SAR Oaks, winner, Conviction. For Conviction, it would be the last time she would win a race, and she was retired this spring. This year, we will have a field of seven going to post for a nice purse, though a bit lower than the 2019 offering. For the most part, these are up and comers or hopefuls, so it will be interesting to see what happens with this race.

#1- Too Scared To Party (Smokey Stover, ridden by M Tunon)- Smokey Stover certainly is not scared to party with this one, pulling out $900.000 to buy her from Martyparty in private sales two weeks ago. She is the most accomplished filly in this field, winning four out of eight thus far, and has two Grade 3 wins, one being at 11 furlongs on the grass at the RGD last month. There is only one other horse in this field who has won a graded stake previously. Looks like she has a great shot and Smokey may be recouping a good chunk of that sale price very quickly.

#2- Lucky Greek (Langley Farms, ridden by J Stein)- There are a few horses in this field that are like Lucky Greek. Right now, they have not done much, with less than $100.000 in career earnings, and hoping for the big break. Since being moved to the grass, this filly has been looking good in the races she has been in, but her last start in the $75.000 Tomboy at BTP does not create optimism here. Though as always, there could have been a very good reason for it.

#3- Hollywood Phooey (Nakamura Stables, ridden by D Davis)- This filly is no stranger to being entered into graded stakes, or any form of stake, but she has yet to do something in one of them to get people excited. Dropped into an allowance for her last start, and won it, but the best part of Hollywood Phooey is who owns her. Nakamura can get her turned around, like she needs.

#4- Anna D (Night Mare Racing, ridden by D E Centeno)- Was not afraid of taking on Too Scared To Party at the Grade 3 RGD, but could only serve as the bridesmaid. Still, that was a very positive result for a horse that was jumping up in class from winning the PEN Oaks, and its lack of a purse. That race goes eleven furlongs, and if she can duplicate that, then she might not get the win, but can get a piece of this purse. Some improvement is needed to be a threat for the victory.

#5- Walpurgis Night (Mb Stables, ridden by J Lezcano)- Pretty similar to Hollywood Phooey, in that the best reason to like the horse is because of who the trainer is. In this case, perhaps because of who the sire is (Cherokee Sunset) as well. Right now in her career, she has not done anything of note, but Mb Stables is not just bringing her here to look pretty.

#6- Raw Sugar (Mb Stables, ridden by R M Hernandez)- The more appealing entry in the race from Mb Stables, considering she has five wins in her eight career starts. It doesn’t matter where they are, that stat shows she has heart. Now, when you jump up in class like this, it is going to take a lot more than that. Her effort in the Grade 3 Providencia at SA from April is highly disappointing, so the jury is still out on whether or not she can advance her career.

#7- Mrs Nussbaums Credit (Arindel, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- She is the other horse in this field who was able to party after winning a Grade 3. That was truly a phenomenal effort, coming in the Grade 3 Honeymoon, when she took a couple steps up in class. It is a win like that why it makes sense for trainers to take shots with their horses, like we see in other posts for this race. Mrs Nussbaums Credit hated the soft turf in her last start, but she won’t have to worry about that here.

Prediction: 7-1-4-6

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded