Each track has its top races, and the Oaks is usually amongst them. At Del Mar, this is no different.
Each year, Del Mar contests six Grade 1 races. The Oaks is the only of these contests run on the grass, and the only one set aside for 3-year-old fillies. The Oaks itself is a prestigious race, with a “who’s who” type list of winners: Anisette, Spenderella, Going Global, Red Lark, and Cambier Parc are the most recent five winners, and all of them are fine turf runners. The inaugural running happened in 1957; the list of winning connections is a literal who’s who of Southern California racing.
Let’s meet the field, and put together a wager. If you’re wagering in California, check out our friends at AmWager! They’re offering a 100% sign up match up to $150. It’s a full field, so let’s get after it!
Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. 1 ⅛ miles, turf. 3-year-old fillies. $300,000.
1. Slick. 15/1. Jockey: Mirco Demuro. Trainer: Phil D’Amato.
Slick comes in second off the layoff, finishing a decent 3rd last out in an allowance at Del Mar. She finished 6th in the Grade 3 Durante earlier this year; a similar outcome is likely here. Demuro, hopeful to get a mount for the Breeder’s Cup - also to be held at Del Mar - has failed miserably thus far in convincing connections in Southern California that he’s worthy. A win here would be a major step in that direction.
Comment: toss.
2. Take A Breath. 12/1. Jockey: Hector Berrios. Trainer: Mark Glatt.
Take A Breath comes out of back-to-back wins in in Britain, both at the Group 4 level. This is roughly equivalent to high level allowances stateside, so she’s at least in good form. Knock against those races - they were both right-handed, the opposite direction of North American racing. She’s only gone left-handed once, and that was her second career race. Easy positives with trainer Mark Glatt: he’s won two of his last six starts with horses new to North America, and he wins at 29% with horses in his barn for the first time. I’d listen to arguments in her favor, but I’m not buying the - yet.
Comment: toss.
3. Velocity. 15/1. Jockey: Ricardo Gonzalez. Trainer: Michael McCarthy.
Velocity is a lightly raced daughter of 2016 KY Derby winner Nyquist, and since moving to the turf for her most recent three races, she’s been dynamite. She sprinted the first two times on turf, nearly picking off the Grade 3 Senorita down the hill at Santa Anita in late April. After some time off, she re-emerged at Del Mar in July, winning against winners for the first time. She’s second in the form cycle, and very live for trainer Michael McCarthy. She’s a must include in exacta and trifecta plays.
Comment: will hit the board.
4. Resolve. 20/1. Jockey: Keith Desormeaux. Trainer: Leonard Powell.
Resolve is 1-for-9 in her career, with her one win coming at Del Mar over the turf course. Trainer Leonard Powell won this race two years ago with Anisette, one of the best turf fillies that year. Resolve, simply put, is nowhere near her level.
Comment: toss.
5. Lush Lips. 3/1. Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione. Trainer: Brendan Walsh.
Lush Lips is making the trip from Kentucky, where she most recently won the Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs. This year, she has two wins and two 2nd-place finishes; both of her losses with to potential 3-year-old filly of the year Nitrogen. Good news for trainer Brendan Walsh: Nitrogen runs at Saratoga on Saturday, leaving this field void of Lush Lips’ archnemesis. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, fresh off a six win Sunday at Ellis Park, is in to ride. We’ll put her on top, and pray the 3/1 price sticks.
Comment: most likely winner.
6. Edge of Mali. 15/1. Jockey: Antonio Fresu. Trainer: Jeff Mullins.
Edge of Mali checks a fair number of boxes for a lightly raced 3-year-old: She’s won, impressively, over the surface at Del Mar; she’s third up in the form cycle; and she raced left-handed - and well - in Ireland before moving stateside. I’m not sure she’s a winner in this group, but don’t be surprised to see her as part of a blanket finish.
Comment: include in exotics.
7. Will Then. 6/1. Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: Jonathan Thomas.
Will Then won the Grade 3 Durante at Del Mar last year, and picked off the China Doll at Santa Anita in her first start this year. Trainer Jonathan Thomas then shipped her to Kentucky for the Grade 2 Edgewood at Churchill; she finished an acceptable 5th, two lengths behind Lush Lips. Upon returning to California, she ran a good 3rd in the Grade 2 San Clemente, the defacto prep for this race. She’ll be second in the form cycle, and is clearly capable; we’ll play against until we see her pick off a higher level stakes.
Comment: toss.
8. Firenze Flavor. 15/1. Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke. Trainer: Patrick Gallagher.
Firenze Flavor was right behind Will Then in the San Clemente, and is also second off the layoff. The race before the layoff? The Grade 3 Honeymoon - contested at this distance on turf at Santa Anita. She’s 3-for-5 this year, and while she needs a pace to close into, she’ll get all of that here. Trainer Patrick Gallagher won this race in 2020 with Red Lark, and none other than jockey Drayden Van Dyke - who gets the mount here - was aboard. Could they run it back? Why the heck not. We’ll play against, but this wouldn’t be a stunner.
Comment: live longshot.
9. Casalu. 10/1. Jockey: Kazushi Kimura. Trainer: Bob Baffert.
We see trainer Bob Baffert win plenty of graded stakes - but usually on the dirt. He’ll send Casalu to the gate, winner of two listed stakes at Santa Anita earlier this year. She’s been in strictly stakes company since breaking her maiden on first asking. Baffert moved her to the turf after the Grade 3 Sorrento last fall; she’s been in the top 2 five of those six starts. I don’t think she’s good enough to win here, but she’s competitive for a nice check. Baffert last won this race in 2009.
Comment: can hit the board.
10. Thought Process. 8/5. Jockey: Umberto Rispoli. Trainer: Phil D’Amato.
Thought Process is the top west coast turf filly, and is undefeated on the grass outside of a start in the Breeder’s Cup. It’s Phil D’Amato and Umberto Rispoli, and it’s a local who didn’t have to ship after a bullet work the other day. We’ll throw her on the ticket, but Lush Lips is just a step better.
Comment: can win.
11. Miso Phansy. 30/1. Jockey: Armando Ayuso. Trainer: Leonard Powell.
Miso Phansy is a Cal-sired daughter of Karakontie, whose progeny have been representing him quite well out west. We gushed over Firenze Flavor and her win in the Honeymoon; Miso Phansy lost that race in a photo finish. At 30/1 with capable rider Armando Ayuso, the value screams. She’s also entered Sunday; I’m hopeful she stays here, and spices up our exotics.
Comment: can hit the board.
The Sporting Tribune Wager:
$.50 Late Pick 4, starts race 7 ($72): 2,4,8 / 5,10 / 4,5,7,8 / 1,2,3,4,7,10.
Good luck!