The Del Mar Oaks Grade 1

1 1/8 on Turf Purse $300.00 For Fillies Three Years Old
Del Mar Race Course, Del Mar, California

-We head to where the turf meets the surf, and that can only mean old Del Mar when horse racing is the subject matter. This Grade 1 event for three year old fillies comes down to a basic handicapping premise, do you favor the more seasoned or the new and shinny? Allow from Mb Stables has only started three times but has run well in all three starts including a neck victory in a grade 2 event following her five length maiden breaker in start number two. Allow also draws the rail, has speed and is saddled by the country’s perennial leading barn. Certainly can’t fault those taking a ride on her at the windows, but I don’t see her going postward at much of a price. Shes So Pretty from High Voltage was purchased for $150.00 after an eleventh place dead-heat in last years Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and on paper, to most handicapper’s, she likely looks best suited as a late running sprinter. However, she ran a much better than looked effort in her last start, a tougher assignment than she faces here and she knows how to continue to grind late when going two-turns. It goes against normal thinking that a closer will appreciate a slower pace, but I believe that this is one such occasion. Look for her to move up in position earlier and wear down more than a few foes late. She should also be a decent price. Perception Plus from Spb Racing never misses a dance, as evidenced by her fourteen lifetime starts already. She draws the outside box seat here, but that should not be a difficult assignment, as only seven runners are signed up. She wants to go, but it’s hard to imagine both bookend jockey’s not yielding some on the front. Star Sequence from Team 7 Illusions broke her maiden at this distance in her second start and then came right back to win again in a Grade 3 at this distance on a yielding track, earning the top number of this cast. Certainly can’t fault anybody going this direction either.

Of The Rest:

Patronize from DJC Racing Stables is yet another option here. She has already rung the bell three times in her career and although she has never gone quite this far she appears to want it. All three efforts at a sixteenth less were solid runs. More food for thought.

Blackbyte from Rock Creek just ran fourth in the San Clemente Handicap over this course after breaking her maiden at the Fort. Should be a price for those who believe.

Miss Cherokee Lane from Arindel broke her maiden as a two year old and then won two starts back in a first level allowance race at the Fair Grounds. Her last start was a second place finish in an optional claimer in Florida. Nothing really bad to report, it just looks like others are more seasoned and if the top few run to the best of their ability this gal will need a ten point improvement to be in the picture and to me that seems unlikely in this spot.

-Trackman

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES