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Oaks Entrants
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Trainer |
Jockey |
Owner |
Breeder |
O'Neill, 37, is a Michigan native and currently resides in Santa Monica California with his wife and son. He began working at the track in 1986, learning under trainers Richard Mandella, Doug Peterson, and Hector Palma for eight years before going on his own in 1994. He has been the leading trainer at Fairplex and Hollywood Park, where he is currently based. He is well-known for his ability to move horses up off the claim, as he did with Fleetstreet Dancer, winning the 2003 Japan Dirt Cup at 48-1 after claiming the horse for $40,000 in 2002. He had a great 2005, winning 158 and over $9.4 million in purses to rank fifth nationally. He's been the leading trainer multiple times at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Fairplex Park. O'Neill has had one Oaks starter, Classy Cara was third in 2000. |
Valenzuela, born October 17, 1962, in Montrose, Colorado, currently lives in Arcadia, California. Widely regarded as one of the most talented riders of any generation, Valenzuela has battled personal problems throughout his career. He comes from a family of horsemen. His father, A.C., was a jockey, as were several uncles. His cousin, Fernando, also rides in southern California. Riding on the aforementioned circuit since the late 1970's, Valenzuela was the leading apprentice in terms of wins for the 1979-1980 Santa Anita meet. He has won numerous riding title since then at Hollywood Park, Del Mar, Oak Tree, and Santa Anita. He was the youngest jockey ever, aboard Codex for Wayne Lukas, at 17, to win the Santa Anita Derby. He won the Kentucky Oaks in 1985 on Fran's Valentine and the Derby in 1989 on Sunday Silence, his only Derby win in seven mounts. He also was aboard Arazi when that one rolled to his stunning victory in the 1991 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. |
STD stands for Steve, Tracy and Dave Kenley, who reside in Phoenix, Arizona. They have partnered with Jason Wood on several horses trained by Doug O'Neill, most notably Lava Man, a horse they claimed for $50,000 in 2005 and has gone on to win two $1 million races this year, including the Santa Anita Handicap (GI). |
Itty Bitty Pretty was bred in partnership by Liberation Farm, owned by New Jersey resident Rob Whiteley (pictured) and Oratis Thoroughbreds. Whiteley had been chief of operations of Carl Ichan's Foxfield for 18 years prior to its dispersal in 2004. Foxfield has bred over 140 stakes winners during his tenure, including champion Meadow Star. Liberation Farm itself has bred stakes winners El Corredor, Strong Hope and Roman Ruler. Oratis Thoroughbreds is owned by retired California heart surgeon Chris Elia. The partnership bred multiple stakes winner Badge of Silver, a winner of graded events at three, five and six. |
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04.25.05 - Valenzuela To Ride Itty Bitty Pretty In Oaks
04.08.05 - Bushfire Too Fast For Balance, Wait a While In Ashland
02.11.05 - Balance Impresses In Las Virgenes
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DRF Past Performances
Next Race: 05.05 Kentucky Oaks (GI)
Future Wager Odds
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Pool # |
Date |
Horse # |
Final Odds |
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3 |
04.06-09 |
12 |
22-1 |
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2 |
03.02-05 |
12 |
26-1 |
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1 |
01.26-29 |
12 |
25-1 |
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Race History :: Graded Earnings: $120,520 - Race Record: 8-2-1-3
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Date |
Race |
Finish |
Chart |
Recap |
Video |
Comments |
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04.08.06 |
Ashland (GI) |
4th |
Chart |
Recap |
Video |
Mild gain; wide trip |
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02.11.06 |
Las Virgenes (GI) |
3rd |
Chart |
Recap |
Video |
Good effort behind Balance, Wild Fit |
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01.07.06 |
Santa Ysabel (GIII) |
1st |
Chart |
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Video |
Drew off in stretch |
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12.12.05 |
Allowance @ Hollywood |
2nd |
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Tracked in second; Diplomat Lady 1st |
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10.23.05 |
Anoakia @ Santa Anita |
4th |
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Broke slow; closed quickly late |
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09.17.05 |
Barrett's Debutante @ Fairplex |
3rd |
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Couldn't make up ground on tight turns |
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08.20.05 |
Maiden allowance @ Del Mar |
1st |
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4 wide; resolute win |
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07.21.05 |
Maiden claiming ($100K) @ Del Mar |
3rd |
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Slow start, decent closing kick in debut |
Recent Workouts
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Date |
Track |
Distance |
Time |
Rank |
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04.28 |
Churchill Downs |
6 furlongs (fast) |
1:17.00 B |
3/3 |
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04.21 |
Churchill Downs |
4 furlongs (muddy) |
49.20 B |
6/15 |
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04.02 |
Keeneland |
4 furlongs (fast) |
49.40 B |
5/14 |
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Itty Bitty Pretty is a daughter of El Corredor, a winner of one of two starts at two. El Corredor won four of five races the following year, including wins in the Del Mar Breeders' Cup (GII) and Cigar Mile (GI) against older horses. His only defeat at three came when he was second to Fusaichi Pegasus in the Jerome Handicap (GII). El Corredor started just three times at four, winning the Del Mar Breeders' Cup for a second time and Pat O'Brien Handicap (GII). All of his seven victories came at a mile or under. He is the first grade one winning sire that is inbred to Mr. Prospector (3x4). Since his first crop of racing age are 3-year-olds of 2006, it is yet to be seen if this cross to the great speed sire will impose distance limitations on his offspring. To date, he has sired five stakes winners and one champion in Puerto Rico. In addition to our subject filly, his best runners are Adieu, winner of the Frizette (GI) and Wanna Runner, recent victor in the WinStar Derby.
Itty Bitty Pretty is out of the veteran mare Tipsy Girl. A winner of over $285,000 and a pair of listed stakes, Tipsy Girl has had ten foals to race, nine of which are winners. Itty Bitty Pretty is her most accomplished of the group, but she has thrown three other stakes placed runners as well. Tipsy Girl is a daughter of the multiple grade three winner Raise a Cup, a speedy Calumet Farm colt that set a track record for 5 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park. Tipsy Girl is out of an unplaced mare , Astrology Miss, that, like her daughter, produced a long string of winners. Being inbred to a pair of speed stallions Raise A Native (5x3) and the aforementioned Mr. Prospector, she has a high dosage index.
Dosage Index: 6.00
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ITTY BITTY PRETTY was another Oaks filly that didn't fare well in the Ashland (GI) last out at Keeneland. Her race there was better than it looked; she did pass several horses to get up for fourth, even if she was well-beaten fourth. While the track probably didn't flatter her running style, the fact remains that she has one Grade Three win to her credit and has finished behind Balance both times they have faced each other. The aforementioned win came against a suspect group in the Santa Ysabel; however, when she's faced top class company she's been beaten by several she'll face in the Oaks. On the flipside, she's shown improvement in her speed figures in each of her races until the Ashland. Don't like the fact that she turned in a slow 1:17 work for six furlongs last Friday here at Churchill. She does get Valenzuela back to pilot; he's been aboard for her best races. Trainer Doug O'Neill doesn't often ship unless he think he has a chance. And while this race doesn't have a clear standout, it looks like there are a group in here that could pull off the win and not be considered a shocker, with this filly among them. Would demand at least the morning line of 12-1 before going to the window.
- Mark Hoard |
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Oaks Information
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