The Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks introduced by Keeneland Gross sales Saturday, Aug. 15 at Del Mar brings collectively a pleasant subject 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 in all 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 introduced by Japan Racing Affiliation in Could. Medoro most just lately 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 on the lookout for her fourth consecutive win, the latest 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 subject to haven’t positioned in a stakes race to this point, most just lately ending eighth within the San Clemente.
Evaluation and predominant contenders:
Buchu ships in from New York and comes out of the hardest race amongst this subject. Though sixth of 9 on July 6 within the Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational, the hassle was the perfect on this group, incomes her a 104 Equibase Velocity 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 introduced 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 almost 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 journey once more. Assuming the filly can repeat her effort from the Belmont Oaks on this race, she often is 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 might need run higher with out visitors hassle. 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 journey 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 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 bought a dream journey on the rail. She attracts the within once more immediately, however it is a harder group. The Del Mar Oaks will likely be her first strive previous a mile and contemplating the 96 determine earned within the San Clemente is a bit low in contrast with what is anticipated of others, I believe she could have her work lower 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 could hit the board, she seems a lower 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: