Oaks Updates

WEST/WILD FIT GETS REMATCH WITH BALANCE IN SANTA ANITA OAKS - Amerman Racing’s Balance and Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith’s Wild Fit, two of the most talented Kentucky Oaks (GI) contenders on the West Coast will meet for the second this year in Sunday’s $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (GI) at the Arcadia, Cal. track.

The 1 1/16-mile event is the second Grade I run in California this spring. The other was the Las Virgenes at Santa Anita, which saw Balance and Wild Fit finish 1-2.

The David Hofmans-trained Balance is versatile filly that has shown the ability to win races in all fashions, including wire-to-wire scores, stalking wins, and late-running victories. From five starts, she has crossed the wire first on four occasions, including a disqualification to third place in a restricted stakes on the turf in her second career start.

A daughter of 1995 Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch, Balance will be ridden by Victor Espinoza. She has a record of 3-1-1 in five races and has earned $333,300l.

Wild Fit, meanwhile, will be running with the value of the 2006 a race under her belt. The daughter of Wild Wonder, who was purchased by her current owners for $3 million following a a runner-up finish to champion Folklore in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), opened her 3-year-old season with her runner-up finish in the Las Virgenes. That race was her first since the Breeders’ Cup in November, and also her first for new trainer Patrick Biancone.

Charles Cono’s Diplomat Lady has the look of a wild card in the California filly division. After besting Balance at odds of 39-1 in the Hollywood Starlet, the daughter of Forestry finished a dull fifth in Las Virgenes. Trained by Christopher Paasch, Diplomat Lady will race without blinkers for the first time in four starts.

The field for the Santa Anita Oaks also includes recent allowance winner Sweet Belle, Quiet Kim, Cheerily, Horse B With You, Karlee’s Kitten and I Can See.

Absent from Santa Anita Oaks field are Folklore and Santa Ysabel (GIII) winner Itty Bitty Pretty. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas had originally listed the race as a likely start for his reigning champion, but changed his plan when he became dissatisfied with Folklore’s training. She could return to competition at Keeneland and has been nominated for the Ashland Stakes (GI) on April 8 at the Lexington, Ky. track.

Itty Bitty Pretty finished third to Balance and Wild Fit in the Las Virgenes, but trainer Doug O’Neill said that he would likely wait until Keeneland’s Ashland for his filly’s next race.

Ex Caelis Posts First Work of 2006 - Circle C Group Stable’s Ex Caelis recorded her first workout of the year, working four furlongs handily in 48.40 over a track rated as fast at Santa Anita on Wednesday, March 8.

The move by the Lukas-trained Kentucky Oaks hopeful was the seventh fastest of 18 works at the distance.

The daughter of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus burst onto the scene at two with runner-up performances in the Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Lassie (GIII) and the Alcibiades (GII) at Keeneland. She finished a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), but then went to the sidelines for ankle surgery.

EAST/MIRACULOUS MISS, FRENCH PARK HEAD FOR ASHLAND - Two major players from last week’s major stakes races for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park could meet in the $500,000 Ashland (GI) at Keeneland on April 8.

Steve Klesaris and Puglisi Stable’s Miraculous Miss, winner of the $150,000 Forward Gal (GII), and Stevestan Stable’s French Park, a disappointing seventh behind Teammate in the $150,000 Bonnie Miss (GII) earlier on the same card, are both being pointed toward the race.

After suffering her only career defeat over a sloppy track in the $100,000 Old Hat (GIII), Miraculous Miss rebounded to rally from last to win the seven-furlong Forward Gal. The daughter of Mr. Greeley will be stretching out to a two-turn distance for the first time in the Ashland.

French Park came out of the Bonnie Miss with an excuse for her poor performance. Trainer Helen Pitts told the Daily Racing Form that the Pocahontas (GIII) and Golden Rod (GII) winner exited the race with lung infection. Pitts will continue with her plan to run the filly in the Ashland and the Kentucky Oaks.

Both fillies were among the 80 nominees announced this week for the 1 1/16-mile Ashland. Nominees included juvenile filly champion Folklore, Balance, Diplomat Lady, Ex Caelis, Wild Fit and Frizette (GI) winner Adieu.

The Ashland historically has been a key prep for the Oaks. Ten fillies have swept both races, with Silverbulletday in 1999 being the most recent. Last year, Summerly finished a well-beaten fourth in the Ashland before rebounding to capture the Oaks.

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