SA Oaks – Grade I [KYO]
1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $400.000 For Fillies Three Years Old.
1 Skeleton Abra Chili King Stables Leparoux J R
Won a decent turf maiden as a two year old before moving to the top turf races where she performed pretty well without threatening to win. Fourth in the Natalma she made a good go of making all in the Jessamine after that ending up third and those runs were good enough to have a crack at the BC Juvenile Turf. On the pace early she faded badly to finish 13th and was even worse on seasonal debut when a well beaten fifth in an allowance. With those deteriorating efforts on turf her trainer is giving her a go at the dirt today but i havent seen enough to really give her a winning chance in this.
2 Ivanka Winning Link Stables Geroux F
Here’s a filly on the up who finds a good draw and a decent chance of backing up her Las Virgenes win last time out. A winner of a maiden on debut she was then a bit up and down last year winning three but fading in her two defeats. She didnt look much like a router last year but she ran a cracker in her first start as a three year old scooting clear at the end of the Las Virgenes for an impressive two length win. Her works have been a bit up and down but her form has a good look about it.
3 Too Much Wisdom Mb Stables Ortiz I Jr
A filly that has been mopping up lower grade races recently but the stable does this sometimes with good horses and the fact that she has been running at TUP this year shouldnt put you off. Her work times are pretty good and winning form is good form so you have to treat her chance with some respect.
4 Jokes On You Mb Stables Bejarano R
Out of the stable entries you would have to think this one is the best chance but she has something to find on Ivanka after being beaten by her in the Las Virgenes. She won the DED Princess as a two year old on her third start so went into the winter a big hope for the KYO however she hasnt quite fired so far this year. Running on into fourth in the Las Virgenes she again got outpaced early in her last start in the Santa Ysabel Stakes running on again when the race was over to finish seventh. If her trainer can get her into a decent position early she will be tougher to beat today.
5 Yesterbae Jive Inc. Albarado R J
It was somewhat of a surprise when Mb Stables sold this filly after her comprehensive win in the Forward Gal, especially as that was her fourth win in a row, but the $420.000 offered was clearly too tempting, and she moved to Jive Inc in March. Her first attempt for the new trainer was in the Bourbonette Oaks when she ploughed through the mud with a sustained late run to only get beaten a neck. There is plenty to like about this filly and she looks a big hope in this field with the type of draw that gives her trainer some options.
6 Gabrielle Alydar Stables Gallardo A A
Won three in a row including two ungraded stakes races before taking her chance in the Santa Ynez Stakes. She raced up on the speed in that good race and was beaten less than a length at the end when a close fifth. She saw out the mile well enough when winning the Suncoast Stakes next up but was rather disappointing in the Honeybee when fading into a well beaten seventh. Looking at the way she has run out her races i am not sure she will really see out this trip yet although her form is certainly good enough.
7 Fortune Tune Aml Racing Pennington F
The trainer is in good form at the moment but this filly looks held on her runs in the Las Vergenes and the Santa Ysabel Stakes. She is a solid sort but the wide draw wont help her turn the form around with a few of her rivals today. I think she will see this trip out well and i guess her best hope would be to take a pull and settle worse than midfield, if there’s a good pace up front she may be finishing well at the end.
8 Night School Maxmillion Farm Baze T C
Bought for $75.000 after a poor run at allowance level her new trainer has managed to get three wins out of three with her since taking over the reins. Her last start win in the NM Breeders Stakes was pretty impressive carrying a penalty as well and although the wide post wont help her chances she is certainly an improving sort who should be there at the finish.
SUMMARY
A tight looking contest its Yesterbae or Ivanka for me.
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