WO Oaks Stakes
1 1/8m Dirt Stake
Purse $500.000 For Fillies Three Years Old Foaled In Canada.
Every year i try and get one good enough to run in this race because this is a great prize for Canada breds and rarely has a full field studded with grade one winners.
This year see’s just one runner that has won any sort of graded stakes so once again is a race that opens the door for some of the horses that wouldn’t normally race for a purse this big. There is some talent here so lets see if we can find a winner.
1 Creepy Lass Night Rider Stables Velazquez J R
It is a well trodden path to see this trainer claim one and then throw it straight into the deep end but they are very good at it and have had plenty of success. With only four races she is a bit of an unknown quantity but i am a little wary that her only attempt at a longer trip resulted in a pretty ordinary run in a TAM one win allowance. She went back in trip to win that $16 claimer last time and does have a pretty impressive 1.10 and 4 6 furlong work to her name the last time she publicly worked on a fast surface so i think there may be more to her than meets the eye. She gets a great draw and of she see’s the trip out could be a winning chance.
2 Z Donut Arindel Garcia Mar
Her only win came as a two year old and whilst she has run some fair races it has to be said that she has been largely disappointing. She was very poor in the SUN Oaks when last tried over a longer trip but in a race that lacks much depth in form she does have the sought after draw and comes from a stable in form.
3 Juilliard Mo Mentum Farm Stein J
If it was the off track rather than the trip that caught her out last time this could be a filly with a good chance. She was strong enough at the end of the Fury Stakes to suggest she may get nine furlongs and her work of 1.10 and 4 is very nice in this field.
4 Paris Candy Glorify Stables Pennington F
Just two runs but her work times tell me that if she takes the change of surface she will be a serious contender despite her lack of experience. The winner at this venue in a turf maiden last time she came from a mile behind that day and produced an electrifying finish. If she can do that again today she may turn out to be a very decent filly and one worth following.
5 Chateau Margaux Mo Mentum Farm Bahen S R
The winner of her last two she is also a very promising filly but both those races were on turf so she has something to prove on the main track today. Her last win was very impressive and in a very fast time for the seven furlongs and with the same jockey again today she could be a very interesting late bloomer f she takes to the dirt.
6 Mercantile Mo Mentum Farm Jaramillo E
The two fillies with the best graded stakes form are draw wide so tactics will play a very important part in this race. Sixth in the Fantasy only beaten two lengths was a decent run but she has been beaten twice since in good overnight company so whilst she doesn’t look a world beater she does have a few ticks in her boxes. She is proven at the trip and on this surface which are questions that still need to be answered by the more progressive looking fillies.
7 Creepy Crawlies Mb Stables Ryan S
The only graded stakes winner in the field she dead heated for the Honeybee and hails from the bets stable in the game. Since that win she has finished a close third in the Fantasy beating Mercantile and last time out was strong to the line in the Iowa Oaks when third. She is the filly with all the right form, the right trainer and will probably start a short priced favorite.
SUMMARY
Well on paper at least it looks like this is Creepy Crawlies race to lose but i have an eye on Paris Candy and Chateau Margaux as possible superstars and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Creepy Lass to run a bit of a race as well. I am willing to go against the favorite here and look for some value from those three.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
