Contenders

Doug O'Neill

O'Neill, 38, 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. In addition to Mistical Plan being a leading contender for the Kentucky Oaks, O'Neill has a loaded hand for this year's Kentucky Derby as well.

David Flores

A native of Tijuana, Mexico, Flores' first win came at Caliente, Mexico in 1984. He captured his first riding title at a major track in '99 at Santa Anita; he also earned his 2,000th career win that year. Was known as "the king of the bull ring" for years for the success he had at Fairplex Park, where he won six consecutive riding titles (from 1989-'94), as well as winning titles at Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Oak Tree. He joined the Southern California jockey colony in '89 and has ridden such top horses as Chilukki, Mash One, Tuzla, Keeper Hill, Free House, Siphon, and Singletary. He won the Kentucky Oaks aboard Keeper Hill in 1998.

J. Paul Reddam

Reddam, a native of Ontario, Canada, has had much success since he became involved with racing in the '80's. He has a PH.D. in Philosophy, and he formed his first racing syndicates with standardbreds some 20 years ago while teaching the same at Cal State University in Los Angeles. Has 40 or so horses in training with several different trainers. His filly Elloluv has earned over $1 million, finishing second in the 2003 Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI); Traver's (GI) winner Ten Most Wanted was one of the favorites for Derby 129. Reddam currently lives in Laguna Beach, CA and is the President of Cash Call, a consumer loan company. He also bought 75% of Wilko, the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) champ, in October, 2004.

Carol Anderson

Carol Anderson entered horse racing in 1985 when she went into partnership on one horse with her brother. Her breeding operation began when she retired her stakes winning racehorse Flyinmyway. Carol owns and operated her breeding operation with her husband, Jerry, who she has been married to for 45 years. They currently own seven mares and keep several horses in training with conditioner Gloria Buckridge. The Andersons have a daughter (Sherri) and two grandchildren.

Mistical Plan is by Game Plan. An unraced son of Danzig, the 14-year-old Game Plan stands stud at E. A. Ranches in Santa Ysabel, California. Game Plan was definitely cut out to be a nice horse, he is out of Cadillacing, a full sister to champion Easy Goer and herself a multiple graded stakes winner. Game Plan has had modest success at stud. His eight crops of racing age have produced a dozen stakes winners, topped by the subject filly, and also including the popular California filly Melanyhasthepapers.

Mistical Plan’s distaff side is rather light on black type in her first two dams. Her dam Mistical Bel won a couple of races, and other than Mistical Plan, her foals have done nothing of note. Her second dam, Mistical Mist, won a single race, but has produced the stakes placed colt Mysterious Cat, second in the San Bernardino (GII). Further back in the family, there is quite a bit more black type to be found, including Remsen (GII) winner Windsor Castle and Vanity Invitational (GI) winner Private Persuasion.

Though Mistical Plan is a front-running type, both sides of her pedigree suggest that she should have plenty of stamina for longer races. On the female side in particular, where the full brothers Graustark and His Majesty appear in the fourth generation, she possesses a double dose of the greats Ribot and Flower Bowl.

MISTICAL PLAN was certainly not helped when she was allotted post #13 for this race. She appears top be the only true frontrunner in the race after Appealing Zophie decided to take a pass. She will have a tough time navigating her way to the front with Sealy Hill, Rags to Riches, and Autobahn Girl directly to her inside; none of those are likely to give up enough ground early to let her get the lead and move towards the rail before the enter the first turn, which makes her liable to lose a lot of ground. She comes into this race off an uninspiring effort in the Ashland (Grade 1) where she was allowed to set a soft early pace and still could not hold off the cavalry charge in the stretch as she faltered to finish fifth, behind a couple of fillies that she will have to deal with again in this race. She might have been an interesting longshot play before the post draw this morning, but post thirteen is tough to endorse. I'm taking a pass on her and betting she can't steal the race.