SAR Oaks

SAR Race #8 1 3/16m Turf Stake
Purse $750.000 (plus up to $62.500 for NY-breds) For Fillies Three Years Old.

1 Cest And Me D J C Racing Stables Lezcano J

The BEL Oaks is the key marker for this race or atleast it would be if the form was that reliable at HRP. So rather than looking at the finishing positions its worth looking at what sort of trip the horse had and that may give us a clue as to how they will finish today. This one was sixth in the BEL Oaks beaten just two lengths and running past horses at the end after getting a fair way back in the order if not in distance. Previously this one had stalked the lead and ran on really gamely to win the Awesome Again so it could be that that may be her favored running style. From this gate she will need to get up there early on and if she can find a good stalk off a fair pace then she may just turn over that BEL Oaks form.

2 Hollywood Short Estero Farms Gutierrez

Just the one win from ten starts isnt a great advert for this one but HRP likes horses that do mammoth switches in types of race and this one is having its first run on turf and has been sprinting in her last two starts. That to me sounds like one of those HRP stories and i think her owner is hoping the same thing. The really arent many clues as to her ability on turf but she has run well on dirt in such races as the GP oaks and has the perfect draw so she may just turn up here and blow them away.

3 The Universe Aer Stables Maldonado E

This filly is certainly better than one win from nine starts and today we may just find out how much better. Her works are in teh right ball park and she is drawn well with a jockey coming back to form so although she doesnt look good enough on paper she may just surprise a few here. She was flying home over this trip in the RGD when a close second but being a three year old beaten by a four year old doesnt look good enough against some of the best turf fillies in the router ranks.

4 Conviction Team 7 Illusions Beschizza A

Another that took a long time to break her maiden and did that in a maiden claimer where she was picked up by her current owner. In a way that can only be done at HRP she went from maiden claimer to winning the grade three Regret in her next start finding something from somewhere. She proved that wasnt a fluke with a decent fourth in the Dance Smartly last time out and despite an iffy looking history she certainly seems to have found some magic under her hew owner. She is certainly good enough to run a big race and will stay this trip well so should certainly be in your calculations.

5 Hopewell Tradition Team 7 Illusions Bejarano R

This one has everything you need at the moment to win a race like this. By the sire of the decade Cherokee Sunset, the winner of her last three including the BEL Oaks and ridden by Bejarano who is in the form of his life. Add to that her trainer who is one of the best in the game and you have an irresistible combination that looks almost unbeatable on paper. However this is HRP and so much can happen that running the same form twice is an achievement and she is on to win her fourth race in a row so she may be due a hard luck story. The best filly in the race she should start favorite and she should win but thats been said far too many times only to see a lack lustre fifth to be said with any confidence.

6 Keep The Treasure Mb Stables Velazquez J

Like most from the stable or atleast most from the top stables of this type she moved very quickly from lowly allowances to running third in the grade one BEL Oaks. Ridden on the speed in the Oaks she just whacked away at the end and was beaten a couple of lengths in the end. Whether she didnt stay or being on pace was too much for her we will only find out today but with the two Mb Stables horses drawn wide history tells us one will be a rabbit and it may well be this one.

7 Festive Mb Stables Pennington

She has been improving at a rate of knots after winning a little allowance at the end of last year and is unbeaten in three this year. Her last win in the Dance Smartly was very confident running right up on the speed and never looking under pressure to hold the advantage all the way home. Her recent works are very strong but she is faced by a wide draw today and that makes the tactics for this race very interesting. It is likely that we will see a false pace here so she may be taken back which doesnt seem to be her running style although here at HRP that doeant mean much. She certainly add an angle to the race which makes it even more interesting.

SUMMARY

Well the tactics will be key here which is why form means very little as i am sure this race will be won or lost in the click of a menu rather than the ability of the horses. Hopewell Tradition and Festive look head and shoulders the best on form and if their trainers get it right should finish one two but strange things can happen at HRP and i wouldnt be betting the house on the Exacta.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES