The Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks offered by Keeneland Gross sales Saturday, Aug. 15 at Del Mar brings collectively a pleasant discipline of eight fillies working 1 1/8 miles on grass with three last-out stakes winners and 4 others which have gained or positioned in stakes in one among their final two races.
Main the sphere in accomplishments is Iscreamuscream, who gained the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes on the Del Mar turf 4 weeks in the past on the shorter distance of 1 mile. Buchu ships in from New York and gained the Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes offered by Japan Racing Affiliation in Could. Medoro most not too long ago completed third within the San Clemente, however previous to that gained the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes. Circle of Belief gained the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at this distance when final seen in June, beating Sakura Blossom, who had gained the Arizona Oaks in March. Whiskey Determination ships in from the East Coast and enters the race searching for her fourth consecutive win, the newest coming within the Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park. Zona Verde was simply three-quarters of a size behind Iscreamuscream within the San Clemente and has an opportunity to enhance. Sea Dancer is the one horse within the discipline to haven’t positioned in a stakes race up to now, most not too long ago ending eighth within the San Clemente.
Evaluation and most important contenders:
Buchu ships in from New York and comes out of the hardest race amongst this discipline. Though sixth of 9 on July 6 within the Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational, the hassle was one of the best on this group, incomes her a 104 Equibase Pace Determine when overwhelmed 4 lengths by Cinderella’s Dream, who returned to win the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational earlier this month. That wasn’t the primary time Buchu has damaged the 100 speed-figure threshold, as she earned a 104 determine when sixth (overwhelmed two lengths) within the Edgewood Stakes offered by Twin Spires in Could, and a 106 determine profitable the Appalachian Stakes in April. Among the many remainder of the sphere, solely Circle of Belief (101 in June) and Sea Dancer (100 in March) have earned figures higher than 100. Moreover, Belmont Oaks fourth-place finisher Pin Up Betty practically gained the Pucker Up Stakes in her subsequent begin and the third-place finisher from that race, She Feels Fairly, is working within the Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga this weekend. Jockey Martin Garcia, as soon as a staple on the southern California circuit, has been aboard for all three wins aboard Buchu and can experience once more. Assuming the filly can repeat her effort from the Belmont Oaks on this race, she could be the one to beat at an interesting 12-1 odds on the morning line.
Medoro gained the primary 4 races of her profession, together with three stakes, culminating with a victory within the Providencia Stakes in April. After three months off, she returned within the San Clemente Stakes 4 weeks in the past and completed third however may need run higher with out site visitors bother. Whereas winner Iscreamuscream was getting a dream journey on the rail, Medoro was boxed in on the far flip. When angled out for room, Medoro accelerated properly however was too late to move the highest two finishers. Jockey Antonio Fresu has been aboard for all 5 races together with 4 wins and chooses to experience Medoro over Circle of Belief, who he rode to victory within the Honeymoon Stakes in her most up-to-date race. Though her greatest Equibase determine is 94, earned within the San Clemente, she would possibly run a brand new greatest right here the Del Mar Oaks making her second begin off the layoff if she will be able to get a clear journey.
Whiskey Determination is one other shipper from the east like Buchu, having final run in Delaware 5 weeks in the past when victorious within the Christiana Stakes with a career-best 95 determine. She picks up prime jockey Umberto Rispoli and shoots for her fourth win in a row, with every of the final three decisive as she was in entrance with an eighth of a mile to go and prolonged her margin down the stretch.
As for the remainder, I’ll begin with Circle of Belief. Though she earned a 101 determine profitable the Honeymoon Stakes at this distance in June, she has been away the longest of the group and loses the jockey (Fresu) who guided her to victory, to Medoro. Iscreamuscream gained the San Clemente properly however as said earlier she acquired a dream journey on the rail. She attracts the within once more at the moment, however it is a more durable group. The Del Mar Oaks might be her first attempt previous a mile and contemplating the 96 determine earned within the San Clemente is a bit low in contrast with what is predicted of others, I feel she might have her work reduce out for her because the 8-5 morning-line favourite. Zona Verde completed behind Iscreamuscream within the San Clemente with a 95 determine and her final win got here in December so, though she might hit the board, she seems a reduce under the highest contenders. Sakura Blossom might solely handle fourth within the San Clemente with a 91 determine and, though second with a 99 determine earlier than that within the Honeymoon, is one other who seems able to a minor award at greatest. Sea Dancer was non-competitive within the Honeymoon when sixth with a 91 determine and ran about the identical with an 89 determine when checking in eighth within the San Clemente.
High Win Contenders:
