Bob Hill
Staff writer

Oak Tree Racing for Saturday, September 27th

ARCADIA, Calif., – Late September is one of the hotter times of the year in the Los Angeles area, and this week is no exception.  Temperatures in the afternoon at Santa Anita Race Track have averaged in the high 80s all week, and the Saturday forecast calls for a high of 94.

Earlier in the week, veteran trainer Bob Baffert observed that the new Pro-Ride surface has been very good during the coolness of the California mornings, but he said the real test would come in the afternoon.  If one had to characterize how the track has played at the opening of the meet, “fast and speed favoring” would be the most likely descriptors.

There will be many interested observers of the racing at Santa Anita on Saturday, as owners and trainers await information that will help inform important decisions they have to make about the new surface and whether or not to enter their horses to run on it in the Breeders’ Cup four weeks from now.

So just for fun, here are my picks for the first four stakes races on the card.  Fellow writer Kat Kubik and I have offered our picks in the Yellow Ribbon and Goodwood in a companion article.

Clement L Hirsch (Grade 1)  1-1/4 miles on turf for 3-year-olds and up

Two top entrants in this race return to California off of dramatically different races back East in New York.  Red Giant (6) won the Grade 2 Fourstardave at Saratoga on yielding turf in early August, while Out of Control (5) bombed and finished 40 lengths behind Curlin in a rare start on dirt in the Grade 1 Woodward on Labor Day weekend at the Spa.

Spring House (7) is consistently tough on the California grass, but he usually does better at distances greater than the mile and a quarter in the Clement L. Hirsh.  Ferneley (1) ran evenly in his North American debut in the Eddie Read at Del Mar back in July, and Transduction Gold (2) finished second behind Spring House in the Del Mar Handicap last month.  Bonjour (3) appears to be in pretty deep.  You Got Me Rocking (4) is an improving 4-year-old that may, too, be in a little over his head.  If Red Giant takes to the firm turf of California I believe he will win easily.  Out of Control and Spring House should battle for the place position, and I’m going to take Ferneley at the bottom of the superfecta.  Bob’s picks:  6-5-7-1

Lady Secret (Grade 1)  1-1/16 on Pro-Ride for fillies and mares three-years-old and up

The undefeated Zenyatta (4) already has beaten Ginger Punch, so Hysterical Lady (3) appears to be the final top filly or mare to be on the list of top opponents for daughter of Street Cry.  Zenyatta’s out of the clouds closing style makes her thrilling to watch.  That style makes typical horses vulnerable to traffic problems in large fields and to lone speed that gets rationed out just right.  The former is no factor in this race, but idea of Hysterical Lady winning on the lead with Zenyatta just missing is not far fetched if you want to try for the upset.  I’m going to pick Zenyatta and hope that Mike Smith can time the ride as perfectly as he has in the past.  I’ll take Santa Teresita (5) in the third spot.  Bob’s picks:  4-3-5

The Ancient Title (Grade 1)  6 furlongs on Pro-Ride for 3-year-olds and up

Street Boss (1) was eligible for level one allowance company a year ago as a three-year-old at a time when Idiot Proof was winning the Ancient Title against older horses.  Now Street Boss comes into this year’s version of the race off of five consecutive wins, three of which have been in graded stakes.  In Summation (6) is a Grade 1 winner at the six furlong distance and should never be counted out.   Take your pick on the bottom of the superfecta between Delta Storm (2), Sailors Sunset (5), and Cost of Freedom (8).  Until a horse wins after returning from Dubai (Idiot Proof in this case) I typically play against them.  I’m picking In Summation to end the winning streak of Street Boss in this one.  Bob’s picks:  6-1-4-5.

The Oak Leaf (Grade 1)  1-1/16 mile on Pro-Ride for 2-year-old fillies

This race may provide a preview of several entrants in next month’s Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies contest.  Stardom Bound (2) came from out of the clouds to win the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante last month, and she will deservedly take much of the money on Saturday.  Empressive Lady (7) was the post time favorite in the Debutante, but she spent too much energy getting into contention from her outside post that she had little left at the end of the race.  There is plenty of reason to like her chances here, given that she is racing from post position 7.  Palacio de Amor (4) set the pace in the same Del Mar race, before fading to second place just over four lengths behind Stardom Bound.  Will O Way (1) got up for third in that race, outrunning her long odds, as was the case with Palacio de Amor.  

I also find two other horses interesting in this full field of 12.  Toro Bonito (9) broke her maiden last time out in impressive fashion.  Trained by Bob Baffert, this daughter of El Corredor is another that will take money.  Black Magic Mama (10) is a maiden entering this race, having finished third in her lone race springing at Del Mar in late August.  This daughter of Black Mambo stretches out to two turns, a move that she is likely to love. With Garrett Gomez aboard, she would not be the first maiden to win a race like this.

Bob’s picks:  10-7-4-2