Surprising to this writer that an event of this caliber has only four fillies with at least some Kentucky Oaks points to their name. Estero Farms‘ You Just Have 2 Wait tops the list with sixty points and may just run away with this one, taking the top prize of an additional 100 points.

• SA Oaks – Grade I Stakes event, Saturday April 6th,2019
• Santa Anita Park- One Mile and a Sixteenth, Main track
• Purse $400.000 For Fillies Three Years old

Saturday’s running of the SA Oaks for three year old fillies may just end up being a steal for You Just Have 2 Wait. Her closest competitor in points with 28 is Elegant ( Mb Stables) and she brings two runner-up finishes in key events. Just two other runners have grabbed four points each, and we have two coming here off their Maiden victories.

Lets have a look at this interesting field of ten;

1.Kalaeloa ( Smokey Stover ) Jockey Ortiz I Jr – Managed to run into this trainer while I was in Florida this week. He is definitely looking forward to putting another homebred in the Oaks with this one coming out of his top sire Good Authority. We were both impressed with his most recent bullet work of 1:36 and three, and that was the factor for this affair. Would have liked to have been more middle placed in the gate, but inside may just work. Lightly raced with only four starts, watch for this one this season.

2.Chais Princess ( Aml Racing ) Jockey Gallardo A A – First of two today for this barn. Another in here who is coming off her Maiden victory to move forward. While that victory was the first in eight career starts, this bay filly has finished six times for the show money. has been consistently closing throughout her maiden campaign, but wish the speed numbers were a little higher to get my backing. gains experience here.

3.At The Crossroads ( Gdp Inc ) Jockey Castellano J J – After breaking her maiden in her seasons opener, she tested the waters in the $100 Busanda hoping to gain some KYO points. She would end up sixth in that event, then spring to life in an Alw47 event at GP this past month. Rider has been called up once again here, and she will probably be in the hunt early. Question will be does she have the staying power throughout?

4.Steal The Heart ( Samlam ) Jockey Van Dyke D – Closed out last season with a third place finish in the restricted Soviet Problem Stakes. The winner of that event has failed miserably in tries against Graded. Her most recent runner-up finish in the Busanda had her looking to steal it on top, but lost by two at the wire. The winner of that event is taking on the other KYO event this weekend, so that’s a plus. Could grab a share.

5.Lucky Pivot ( Serenity Stables ) Jockey Hernandez J J – Earned two victories in six starts last season and made a strong step up to close out the year entering the Gr.I Starlet. There were some big name runners on that day and she only missed by a couple lengths, so don’t be quick to discount too early. She has been away for more then sixty days, so that may or may not help her.

6.Scandalous ( Nakamura Stables ) Jockey Desormeaux K J– Finished up last season breaking her maiden, then winning an Alw27 event, then finally capturing the $75 Wait a While Stakes. Hopes were high for her opener in the Santa Ysabel Stakes, but the switch to the dirt didn’t prove out the way they liked it, placing 12 of twelve. She definitely proved she likes the sod, so it could be tough once again over the main track.

7.Innocence Approach ( Mb Stables ) Jockey Gaffalione T – Trainer is a two time winner of this event, and this filly earned her four KYO points two starts ago finishing second in the $150 Suncoast. Unsure if she didn’t like the AQU surface last time out in the $250 Busher where she placed eighth, but this is a rider that the trainer has confidence in an will hope to get her back on track today. Works are on the upside.

8.You Just Have 2 Wait ( Estero Farms ) Jockey Bejarano R – Closed out her Juvenile campaign winning the $75 Juvenile Fillies Sprint event. Then went back to back to the winners circle capturing both the Gr. II Santa Ynez Stakes and the $250 Busher. Three for three is an impressive record and while Prat has shipped to AQU for the Wood Memorial, Bejarano is a master when it comes to Graded events. Top billing.

9.Elegant ( Mb Stables ) Jockey Velazquez J R -Trainer is hoping third times a charm with Velazquez. This big filly was completely disappointed just missing out winning last years BC Juvenile Fillies race by a neck to Camp Hollywood. Has earned herself respect here with another near miss in the Santa Ysabel Stakes, getting beat by a nose in the photo. Keeps getting stronger with each affair, and has finish in the top two in her three route races. In the hunt.

10.Cover Girl ( Aml Racing ) Jockey Talamo J – Second entry for this trainer draws the outside post today. Is three for four in victories in her career, her most recent in the $75 Island Stakes at SUN. Works are strong enough to give this one a second look, and trainer has been know to find the right places to get the best from his entries. Her Dams pedigree does cross over to Charlie Farley, so don’t discount this one out from getting a share.

Summary- Its obvious that with most of the top fillies taking the sideline this weekend, that You Just Have 2 Wait seems to be the one to beat. Elegant will not make it easy for her as well as her stablemate Innocence Approach. If she is not carefully, we may even see a late run from Chais Princess to be a huge upsetter. All in all it should be just another fantastic affair on a stellar weekend of racing.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES