DMR Oaks (Grade 1)- $300.000 Purse
DMR- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
August 20, 2016

A field of eight will be taking part in the 2016 running of the DMR Oaks, a Grade 1 race for three year old fillies that will be run for the 13th time.  It appeared on the race schedule in the early days, starting in 2003, but was never run in 2013.  Purse levels for the race have ranged between $250.000 and $400.000, with it’s current level of $300.000 being constant over the last three editions of the race.   Not surprisingly, many good fillies have won this race within that stretch of time, as most past winners have topped $1,000.000 in career earnings.  The biggest names on that list would be 2011 winner Funky Music and 2010 winner Machiavellian Lady, each of whom topped $2,000.000 in earnings.  Last year, Eva The Diva took home the trophy for this race for Our Athletes, in what was that trainers first race with the filly after purchasing her from Hawaiian Shirt Guy.  No trainer has won the race more then once, and on the jockey side, T C Baze is the only rider with more then one win, but they do not have a mount in this race.  We have plenty of talent in this field, most of which have already proven themselves at this level, and they will meet a couple up and comers who are ready to show that they are ready to make that step forward.  Let’s meet them now!

#1- Dragonville (Drabfantasy, ridden by R Bejarano)- Regular rider R Bejarano seems like one who should be on that past winners list by now, and on Saturday he will have a great chance to finally do so for both himself, and his trainer.  Dragonville was last seen on the track last month at SAR in the Grade 1 Diana, where she ran a respectable third behind dead heating winners.  Two weeks prior, she ran second in the BEL Oaks to Ghost Runner, and those two will renew acquaintances here.   They’ve actually run against each other a few times now lately, and until that race, Dragonville had bragging rights.  This filly has not won since April, and she seems too good to go too long without another win.  She worked well here on Sunday, and is poised to return to the winner’s circle, and will be my pick.

#2- Witches Spec (Blushing Meadows, ridden by D Moran)- This Broomstick Nebraska filly has not done much in her career so far, and if it were not for her pedigree it might be fair for some to wonder what she is doing here.  To appreciate her chances best, you have to look past the races that she has been in to this point and realize that Blushing Meadows has been training her hard on the turf over the last few months, and the works are beginning to show considerable improvement.   This is still a very ambitious placement for the filly given that she has never raced higher then a N1X at CD, when she was fourth, but it should be a good experience for her moving forward.

#3- Drip (Aml Racing, ridden by J Talamo)– Drip is much the same boat as Witches Spec, as the two of them have combined career earnings of $43.780.  Only recently has she begun going long on the turf, running second in a TUP N1X before winning an N1X at LS.  Her works don’t get my attention quite as much as they do with Witches Spec, but what I do like is that she gets a little more distance in this race then her last one.  It will suit her style, and she’s got nice potential.  But this is the DMR Oaks, and a tough spot.

#4- Command And Conquer (John Henry, ridden by R J Albarado)- The new trainer has spent a lot money over the last three months or so to acquire an impressive stable, but ultimately he’s going to want to start seeing better results, as the 33-1-3-5 record at this level is starting to become more and more noticeable.   Eventually, we know this trainer is going to breakthrough, and I think that Command And Conquer gives a great chance for him to do so in this race.  She was purchased for $600.000 in late June from Blushing Meadows and made two starts in July in New York, finishing 9th in the BEL Oaks (against several she sees again here), and 4th on the dirt in the CCA Oaks.  Needs to get it done here.

#5- Heartland (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- Of the three in this field who are not quite as accomplished as the others to this point, Heartland is my favorite.   You have to like that this is a filly that simply knows how to win, taking four of five before being claimed.  Yes, that was a stretch at TUP while the likes of Dragonville and Ghost Runner were in Graded Stakes, but at least she was winning.  It was TwinTowersRacing who swept her away in the a $12.500 claimer from Luz International, and she was placed in the $75.000 Blue Handicap on this racetrack and just missed in a second place photo.  That proves to me that she can elevate her game, and that experience will bode well for here.  Don’t be surprised if she pulls this off.

#6- Ghost Runner (Pumpkin Racing, ridden by J R Velazquez)- She has made it a habit to run against Dragonville, doing so in three of her last four races (she is not as frequently raced as her rival).  The last time was the first time that she was able to defeat her rival, as she captured the Grade 1 BEL Oaks by going right out to the lead and running wire to wire for the victory over the ten furlongs.   Dragonville found herself off the pace more then usual in that one, and you can be sure that each of them will be aware of where the other one is on the race track.   I wouldn’t be entirely be surprised to see the two of them go at one another right out of the gate, and if that were to happen, it will make the other six in this field happy.   Both have bullet works coming into the race, and it will be exciting to watch.

#7- Red Belle (Spongebob, ridden by Alan Garcia)- It took a little while for Red Belle to show the kind of form that she is on right now.  After an inconsistent start to her career, she was put on the shelf for about nine months by Spongebob, and reappeared this June in a claimer at WO.  She didn’t win the race, but her runner up finish provided the confidence that the trainer needed that she may be developing into a stronger racehorse.   She would be entered into the $125.000 Victoriana Stakes for ON-breds three weeks ago, and she would come out on top!  Red Belle is progressing, and is ready to run well here.

#8- Narly Kruz (Brave, ridden by R Alvarado Jr)- This Kruz filly is one of a few to come out of the DMR Oaks, and she would finish seventh in a race that really did have a lot of them finish in very close proximity, putting her closer to Dragonville and Ghost Runner then maybe it would appear.  After finishing second in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf last year, Narly Kruz has gone on to win three times, including the Grade 3 over Ghost Runner last November.  Most recently, she won the Grade 2 Nassau over Memorial Day weekend, topping the likes of Tidal Wave although in fairness she carried seven fewer pounds. Putting all that together, it seems like she should be the favorite in here, but she hasn’t really gone over a mile all that much, and when she did, she was seventh.  Also, she hasn’t had a public track work since the beginning of June.  Absolutely, she can win this race, but I do look elsewhere with it.

Prediction: 1-6-8-5

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES