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CA Cup Oaks Could Be a “Tropical” Situation

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1/16/22

  9    SA     CA Cup Oaks

     $200.000   3yoF    Foaled In CA   1m  Turf   121lbs +penalties

The newly-turned-three year old fillies will be headed to the gate here in SoCal on a day full of Cal-bred racing, and we look at the field for the CA Cup Oaks, a flat mile turf affair.  I’m looking at Tropical Mama as the one to get the job done in this race.  Three wins prior to the seventh on BC Day and she was sold after that performance, this looks like a spot for her to pick it right back up.  Let’s go to the far outside and put Kiss Me Kelsie on the ticket.  She has been close in a number of graded races and seems to like the lawn.  Let’s stay on the outside and put Pocono Life in there, as well.  She’s never run a bad race and went wire to wire in her only grass effort.  There’s a few others with a big shot, so let’s take this one in and see how it plays out. 

Here’s The Field –

1
   Zom B    Night Mare Racing    Pyfer J   121   12/1

Broke maiden last out in her second trip to the gate and that was up at GG vs. Cal-bred types.  She ran off to win by three in her first trip around two turns so she could be any type and make come with a price. 

2
   Neon Moon    Allinthegate    Hernandez J J   123   6/1

Won her first three times out then moved up to graded horses and the world came crashing down.  Tired to be tenth in the Frizette and an even sixth in the Golden Rod, so they look for softer and move her over to the grass.  I’d keep an eye on her.

3
   The Nation    Arindel    Espinoza V   123   4/1

Looked good in her first start over the weeds drawing off at will in the Wait A While at GP in her most recent.  She’s faced some tough horses on the main track and held her own, but that last out was a head-turner and I think you have to give her a big look today.  She was 25/1 in that victory, and I doubt you see that here. 

4
   Biggle    Mb Stables    Gonzalez Ru   121   6/1

Broke maiden at first asking and won on the grass going wire to wire to beach Alw horses at DMR but she’s struggled vs stakes company.  The big barn comes for the money, so this softer spot may just fit the bill and I would give her a big shot. 

5
   Steel Express    Maxmillion Farm    Maldonado E   121   8/1

Looked good breaking maiden on the grass, right here vs Cal-breds, then finished last of ten at AQU facing graded horses.  Class? Grass?  If she can run back to her win maybe she’s in the picture. 

6
   Becoming    Maxmillion Farm    Velazquez J R   121   5/1

Second half of the Maxmillion entry and she won back to back races to close out ’21 taking down Cal-bred maidens at DMR then beating OptAlw types over this course at today’s distance.  That was a soggy course, so she’s shown some versatility.

7
   Tropical Mama    Fractious    Gutierrez Mario   123   7/2

She won three in a row including a pair of stakes races then was seven in the BC Juv Filly Turf (GI).  She was sold after that race and makes her return today.  If she runs back to that form, she should be a bugger to get past today. 

8
   Pocono Life    Nakamura Stables    Desormeaux K J   121   5/1

Two wins and two thirds from five starts so she certainly knows this racehorse biz.  Looked good on the grass at PRX, her first time on the weeds, and she went wire to wire.  You have to think she has ability and should be in the mix. 

9
   Kiss Me Kelsie    Jive Inc.    Frey K   121   9/2

Only one win but a pair of seconds including a nice run in the Matron (GIII) at BEL where she just missed at 56/1 odds.  She was fourth in the Durante (GIII) at DMR.  She should certainly be involved in this one when they turn for home. 

10
   Lake Gunn      

 – Scratch –

      

Early Scratch. 

COZMAN  7 / 9 / 8                Willie’s Green Card   9 / 3 / 7       

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Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded