CA Cup Oaks ($200.000 Purse)
SA- For Fillies Three Years Old Foaled in CA
One Mile on the Turf
February 18, 2019

The CA Cup Oaks was contested today at SA, and it was a tough race to predict. Most of the field was very lightly raced and looking to establish themselves at this level. It had the look of an early year two year old stake where you know there is potential in the field and a star or two that will emerge, it is simply tough to figure out who it will be. Perhaps then, it is not surprising that the race was won by one of the longest shots on the board, and with a fitting name to go with it. Outside Shot picked up her second win of her career here, making both trainer Barcelona Farms and jockey M E Smith first time winners of the race. The time of the win was 1:33.96. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :24.18)- Outside Shot, our eventual race winner from Barcelona Farms, wastes no time jumping out to the lead. Moving into the turn, she is leading by a length with two in close pursuit. Mo Mentum Farm’s Pivotal Cherokee and Aer Stables’ Oblivion running to her outside. Go back a length and a half, and we see the rest of the field being four wide as they all seem to be starting quite conservatively. From inside to outside, this is Smudge (Night Rider Stables), Good For Nowt (Diablo Diablo), Installed Parts (Chili King Stables), and the eventual runner up, Hopewell Tradition (Team 7 Illusions).

(½ Mile- :47.95)- As the field goes around the first turn and into the backstretch, Oblivion, the post time favorite, makes the pass for the lead and has a head in front of Outside Shot for the lead, preventing us from being able to say Outside Shot wired the field, though she was still in very good position at this point. We start to see a little more separation with the rest of the field, and Hopewell Tradition leaves the group that she had been running with earlier, and is now third and trailing three lengths. Pivotal Cherokee dropped back a length behind her, and was now running side by side with Installed Parts. Trailing the field is Good For Nowt and Smudge.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- In completing the backstretch, Oblivion still leads by a head, but Outside Shot comes back on her along her inside and takes the lead over midway through the turn. At the top of the stretch, it’s now her by a head over Oblivion, but the rest of the field is cutting the lead significantly. Hopewell Tradition is now just a length and a half back and has a beautiful lane in front of her to just come right on through between the leaders without breaking stride. Pivotal Cheroke has rejoined her, and had the potential to do the same thing in the stretch. Installed Parts, Good For Nowt, and Smudge had some work to do if they were going to get a piece of the purse.

(Finish- 1:33.96)- For the early portion of the stretch trip, Outside Shot was holding off Oblivion by the same margin, and we really didn’t see anyone else making a strong bid. In the final furlong, Oblivion begins to back out, and only now does Hopewell Tradition start making further progress on the leader. In the end, Outside Shot wins by half a length over Hopewell Tradition, but never really seemed to be in jeopardy of being passed by her. Oblivion hangs on to third over Pivotal Cherokee. Then its Installed Parts, Good For Nowt, and Smudge.

About The Winner- Outside Shot, trained by Barcelona Farms and ridden to victory by M E Smith is a three year old filly by Kommando, and is out of Outlander. She was bred in California by Barcelona Farms as a second quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her second in four starts, and is her first stake win. Her career earnings are now $132.580.

Track: Firm
Time: :24   :47⁴  1:10³  1:33⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 7 – 5 Paid 58.40
$1 Trifecta: 7 – 5 – 6 Paid 124.50

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded