Balance, Wild Fit showdown in Santa Anita Oaks

Wild Fit (left) will try to turn the tables on Balance (right) (Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com)

BALANCE (Thunder Gulch) and WILD FIT (Wild Wonder), the one-two finishers in
the Las Virgenes S. (G1) last month, will renew their rivalry in Sunday’s
$300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G1). The leading California-based three-year-old
fillies will use the 1 1/16-mile event as a stepping stone toward the May 5
Kentucky Oaks (G1).

The David Hofmans-trained Balance crossed the wire in front in her first
three starts, including a pair of stakes, but was disqualified to third in the
Hidden Light S. She then finished second by a half-length in the Hollywood Starlet (G1), her final juvenile start.
She made her three-year-old debut in the February 11 Las Virgenes and rallied
from just off the pace to gain a one-length decision.

Wild Fit captured her first two career starts, the latter being a two-length
tally in the Del Mar Debutante S. (G1), and finished a good second in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Sold to new owners in November and
transferred to conditioner Pat Biancone, the late-running gray left herself too
much to do in the stretch of the one-mile Las Virgenes but finished up well for
the place. The added ground might benefit her on Sunday.

Hollywood Starlet winner DIPLOMAT LADY (Forestry) and SWEET BELLE (Deputy
Commander), who will make her stakes debut off impressive maiden and allowance
wins at Santa Anita, are also part of the nine-horse field. Maiden winner QUIET
KIM (Real Quiet) will lead the post parade under Pat Valenzuela. Next comes
CHEERILY (Ire) (Danehill Dancer), Tony Farina; HORSE B WITH YOU (Slewdledo), Jon
Court; Diplomat Lady, Tyler Baze; Sweet Belle, Corey Nakatani; KARLEE’S KITTEN
(Pioneering), Martin Pedroza; Balance, Victor Espinoza; I CAN SEE (Flying
Chevron), Kerwin John; and Wild Fit, Alex Solis.