Happy Coaching Club American Oaks Day! 

The three year old filly division might be wrapped up today if Thorpedo Anna recreates her dominate Acorn and Kentucky Oaks performances. If she does win the question becomes does she run in the Alabama or does she take a shot in the Travers.  McPeek pulled off something similar with Swiss Skydiver in the Preakness. It’s heady stuff, but she needs to win here first.  

Trivia question: Which trainer has won the most Coaching Club American Oaks? 

Race 10 – The Lake George – Grade III 

One Mile on the Inner Turf Course For Three Years Old Fillies 

1. Gavea: In her only start of the year she dueled on the front end and took the lead but was run down by closers (81 Beyer). That was her first start since the Chelsey Flower Stakes last Fall at the Big A where she was eased. Sharp work over the Oklahoma Turf last week. Competitive with a step forward.
2. Oversubscribed: Came from the clouds in the Wild Applause last month to run down two loose on the lead types (91 Beyer). Still eligible for improvement with only three career starts. Tough to win on the inner turf coming from way off it. Look for her to be closer today. Gets a piece.
3. Manama Gold: Moves to the turf after four dirt starts. Best performance was in the Group 3 UAE Oaks in February where she went gate to wire. She was then moved to the Pletcher barn but there were gaps in the work tab and she didn’t return to the track until last month in the Jersey Girl where she was a second by six lengths while sprinting over Spa dirt track (84  Beyer). Moves to the turf and stretches back out. Wait and see.
4. Vive Veuve: Started her racing career in Ireland but came stateside last Fall and broke her maiden going today’s one mile.  She then won the Sanibel Island (83 Beyer) at Gulfstream where she split horses in the stretch.  Most recently in the Wonder Again she was wide and finished strong (85 Beyer) but was bested by Segesta who then ran second in the Grade I Belmont Oaks. No shame there. Three sharp works on the Oklahoma Turf. Turnback suits. The Pick. 
5. Gala Brand: In her only start as a three year old this Bill Mott trainee trailed the field and made steady progress but was no threat (77 Beyer). Broke her maiden and then won the With Anticipation versus colts over this track last Summer.  Likes to drop out the back and come running late. Tough to win on the inner using that style. Mott wins at a strong 20% second race off layoffs beyond 210 days. Underneath possibilities.
6. Sweet Rebecca: Won her first two starts and that earned her a start in the Wonder Again where she was in position but was flat in the lane after taking a bad step on the far turn (79 Beyer). The “Other Chad.” Dangerous on the rebound.
7. De Regreso: Antonio Sano ships this one in from South Florida where she is on a three race win streak including wins in two overnight stakes the most recent being an off the turf affair run on the all-weather. Takes on graded stakes company for the first time. Sano wins at a 24% clip over the past three years shipping into Saratoga. Lean against.
8. Pounce: Last out in the Penn Oaks she ran well on the pace but couldn’t finish off the race ending up in third (80 Beyer). She tends to be up front but won coming from off the pace earlier this year in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride where she was fantastic (90 Beyer). Value play.
9. Lemon Muffin: Won the Honeybee (84 Beyer) last Winter for D. Wayne at a big price and that put her on the Kentucky Oaks trail.  Not much to report after that as she disappointed in the Fantasy, the Kentucky Oaks, and the Black Eyed Susan.  Dropped into an N1X last month but to avail as she was wide and didn’t fire (67 Beyer). Now moves to turf. Passing.
10. 1 Magic Cross: Bill Mott brings this one back off an eleven month layoff as we last saw this won winning the PG Johnson Stakes over the Saratoga dirt last August. Has been working steadily in preparation for her return. Tough post. Looking elsewhere.
11. Golden Degree (AE): Moves to turf after seven dirt races that included winning her two most recent at the Big A. Seems more like an MTO and an AE. Passing.
12. Goa (AE): Chad takes over after four starts in France on the all-weather.  Won her last two races across the pond.  Her most recent race was the Prix de la Pistole that produced a next out winner and three others who have come back to hit the board. Works don’t show much and the Timeform figs for those French races don’t impress. Tough outside post. Wait and See.
13. In Our Time (AE): Just ran eight days ago in the Coronation Cup finishing a close up sixth. Stretches out to a mile today. She was competitive at seven and a half furlongs against weaker. Possible with the right trip, but that will be tricky from the outside if she draws in. Up Against It.

Picks 4-2-1-6 

 

Race 11 – The Coaching Club American Oaks – Grade I 

One Mile and One Furlong on the Dirt, For Three Year Old Fillies 

1. Candied: Two back in the Ashland she got hung six wide (86 Beyer) and finished fourth behind Leslie’s Rose. Last time in the Lady Secret at Monmouth she handled a short field with a nice ride by Bravo (99 Beyer) in her second start of the year to beat elders. Main challenger.
2. Barbratina: George Weaver brings this one back to graded stakes company after grinding out a win at the N1X level at Churchill (79 Beyer). In the exacta in five of her six career starts. Draw a line through her Gazelle where she was bumped and taken up at the start. Needs to be faster. 
3. Thorpedo Anna: Undefeated in three starts this year and was fantastic in the Acorn over this track where she was wide early but buried her rivals in the stretch (99 Beyer). Has now won five of six career starts for Ken McPeek and was dominate in the Kentucky Oaks (96 Beyer) where she won with ease. Can any of these fillies keep up with her for nine furlongs? The Pick.
4. Leslie’s Rose: Winner of the Davona Dale (79 Beyer) and Ashland (95 Beyer) but was easily handled by Thorpedo Ann in the Acorn. She had a clean inside ground saving trip in the Acorn and followed the move of Thorpedo Anna but was clearly second best (91 Beyer).Throw out her Oaks performance where she caved in on a sloppy Churchill track. Could be left chasing.
5. Intricate: In her first start of the year she came from off the pace in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes to place behind Tarifa (87 Beyer). Then she was wide and had no impact in the Fairgrounds Oaks. In her most recent effort in the Monomoy Girl at Churchill a month ago she was last of five but got up for second (81 Beyer). Gets a slice.

Picks 3-1-5-4 

Trivia Answer: Todd Pletcher has trained a record eight winners of the CCA Oaks.