7/23/22
7 SAR The CCA Oaks (GI)
$500.000 3yoF 1 1/8m Dirt 3yo 122lbs
It’s summer at The Spa and the races are huge… so are the purses, and we look at the field for The CCA Oaks (GI), a mile and an eighth classic for the sophomore fillies. They don’t get much bigger than this, when looking at a resume’ and this is a great group of horses. I landed on Catori as the top choice today, as she just looks to be the hot horse right now. She’s won three of four and despite being ignored by the public in that Acorn (GI) win, I think today you’ll be lucky to catch 7/2 odds. Let’s go right next door and put Exactly in the middle of the festivities. She won the KY Oaks (GI) prior to tiring in the Mother Goose, but she looks ready to fire big again today, and could be the one to get past. You can made a case for any number of these, that’s why it’s a GI race!!
Here’s The Field –
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Grande Sunset | Mb Stables | Davis D | 122 | 7/2 |
She never runs a bad race, and it looks like the big barn just keeps churning out big horses… she broke maiden at second asking, was a fast closing runner up in the GP Oaks (GII) then took a big Alw race at CD before winning the Summer Oaks (GII) at SA last out. She looks like a handful and may be the one to beat.
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Jessicas Secret | Nakamura Stables | Luzzi L J | 122 | 8/1 |
Three wins from her eight starts but she struggled to be eighth in her only trip to the gate vs. stakes company. She does have two Alw wins from her last three starts, but I think she would light-up the board if she wins this one.
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Gamine | Robeth | Ortiz I Jr | 122 | 4/1 |
Only a single maiden win from this one, but she turned some heads when third in the Mother Goose (GII) off of that pair of fourths in stakes company. She was closing fast in that graded race at BEL, and that could spell cash for this barn.
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Karloffs Monster | TwinTowersRacing | Bridgmohan S X | 122 | 9/2 |
She’s runs some big races facing the boys while on the TC Trail, but struggled vs. her own kind. She was ninth in the KY Oaks (GI) but just missed in the TAM Derby (GII) and was a neck back when third in the ARK Derby (GI). Who do we get today?
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Derby Connection | Mb Stables | Lezcano J | 122 | 3/1 |
The big barn brings the second barrel with this one and she’s a tough cookie. They picked this one up for $650.000 prior to that third place effort in the Acorn (GI). Prior to that, she won the Ashland, and was second in the KY Oaks (GI). I think you have to give her a big look today, as well.
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Exactly | Smokey Stover | Castellano J J | 122 | 7/2 |
Another big purchase, this one for Smokey, and she’s won two stakes for this big barn since that high-dollar buy. She won the Honeybee (GIII) at OP and the KY Oaks (GI), beating a few of these. She tired to be fifth in the Mother Goose (GII) but I’d look for her to bounce back today.
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Catori | D J C Racing Stables | Carmouche K | 122 | 7/2 |
This lightly raced filly is proving to be one heck of a race-horse, winning three of her last four starts including that big victory in the Acorn (GI) at 38/1 odds. She closed fast in that one, to nail down her biggest win to day… I’d look for more of the same here.
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Feliz Cumpleanos | Maxmillion Farm | Prat F | 122 | 6/1 |
Another lightly raced filly that made some noise last out with a runner-up finish in the DEL Oaks (GIII). She’s changed hands a bunch of times, but Max seems to have this one in her groove, as she just missed in a high-end Alw race at CD prior to that stakes scare. Is she due for an upset win?
COZMAN 7 / 6 Willie’s Green Card 7 / 5 / 8
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
