For the first time in its 41-year history, the Oak Tree Racing Association
will commence its fall meet at Hollywood Park on Thursday evening, with a
special post time of 7:05 p.m. (PDT).
A not-for-profit, non-dividend paying group of active California owners and
breeders whose directors serve without compensation, Oak Tree has staged its
meetings at Santa Anita ever since its inception in 1969. This year, however,
uncertainty regarding the condition of the synthetic Pro-Ride track at Santa
Anita caused the move across town to Hollywood.
The change in venue has led to an alteration in the opening-night feature,
the $100,000
Sen. Ken
Maddy H. (G3). Formerly contested at about 6 1/2 furlongs on Santa Anita’s
unique downhill turf course, the Maddy will now be run over a flat six furlongs
because of the turf course configuration at Hollywood.
UNZIP ME (City Zip), the 124-pound highweight in the Maddy, has captured six
of her last seven. Her only reverse during this span came versus males two back
in the June 27 Robert K. Kerlan Memorial H. at Hollywood, where she finished a
close third. Meanwhile, the Marty Jones filly has been invincible against fellow
distaffers. Aside from her front-running wins in the Irish O’Brien S. and Las
Cienegas H. (G3) at Santa Anita, and the Great Lady M. S. at this course and
distance, Unzip Me employed pace-prompting tactics en route to her two-length
victory in the August 2 Royal North S. (Can-G3) at Woodbine last out. Rafael
Bejarano, who had ridden her over the winter, regains the mount.
Jones will saddle another prime contender in DOTSY JEAN (Lit de Justice), the
last distaffer to defeat Unzip Me, going all the way back to a Hollywood
allowance last November. Fourth to her high-flying stablemate in the Irish
O’Brien and Great Lady M., Dotsy Jean has since held on by a nose from MINUTE
LIMIT (Ire) (Pivotal) in the Culver City S. here and just missed by a neck when
third to BONIFACIO (Even the Score) in the Daisycutter H. at Del Mar.
CZECHERS (Indian Charlie), runner-up to the ill-fated Tuscan Evening (Ire) in
the Monrovia H. (G3) in January, filled that same spot behind Unzip Me in the
Las Cienegas. The hard-trying mare, last seen finishing fourth in the one-mile
Wilshire H. (G3), will be returning from a five-month layoff for Mark Glatt, who
will also be represented by REBA IS TOPS (He’s Tops).
Like Jones and Glatt, trainer John Sadler will also be double-handed in the
Maddy. Minute Limit has been chasing Unzip Me and Dotsy Jean, but ALPHA KITTEN
(Tale of the Cat) is intriguing in her turf debut. Sidelined for 13 months
following her score in the 2009 Santa Ynez S. (G2), the gray has placed in all
four of her starts since her comeback, including a fine second to Sweet August
Moon (Malibu Moon) in the August 22 Rancho Bernardo H. (G3) at Del Mar.
At the conclusion of the races (approximately 11 p.m.), a concert starring
Sugar Ray will begin at the North Park Lawn.
After Thursday’s 7TH race — and this will be the case for all concert nights
during the meet — there will be a drawing for a free iPad. All Gold Club card
members who scan their card at the gate or new members who enroll that day are
eligible. Players must be at Hollywood Park to win. Enrollment is available at
any customer service booth or online.
The Maddy is the first of 13 graded stakes during a 22-day season that
continues through October 31. Seven of the stakes are Grade 1s, and six of those
will be run during opening weekend.
Eight graded events, including all four on Saturday, are Breeders’ Cup “Win
and You’re In” races. The winner automatically qualifies for the corresponding
divisional race in the Breeders’ Cup that will be run November 5-6 at Churchill
Downs.
The most anticipated of the four Grade 1s on Saturday is the $250,000 Lady’s
Secret S. (G1). The 1 1/16 mile race over Cushion Track will be the final
Southern California start for the undefeated ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]).
Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, the six-year-old
mare will be seeking her 19th win and her third in a row in the Lady’s Secret.
Stabled at Hollywood Park throughout her career, Zenyatta has won seven times at
her home track. The Lady’s Secret will be her final start before she attempts to
defend her title in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
In honor of the occasion, there will be a Zenyatta baseball cap giveaway to
each paid admission Saturday, while supplies last.
Saturday’s other Grade 1 races are the $250,000 Norfolk S. for two-year-olds
at 1 1/16 miles, the $250,000 Goodwood S. (G1) for three-year-olds and up at 1
1/8 miles, and the $250,000 Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) for fillies and mares at 1 1/4
miles on turf.
Two more Grade 1s follow on Sunday. Two-year-old fillies meet in the $250,000
Oak Leaf S. (G1) at 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track, while three-year-olds and up
will clash in the $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship at 1 1/4 grassy
miles.
The final Grade 1 of the season is the $250,000 Ancient Title S. for
three-year-olds and up at six furlongs on October 9.
Another traditional highlight of Oak Tree is the California Cup. A series of
stakes races restricted to California-breds, the Cal Cup will be held for the
21st time on October 30. The program features seven stakes worth $700,000,
topped by the $150,000 Cal Cup Classic for three-year-olds and up at 1 1/8
miles.
Racing will be conducted on a Thursday-Sunday basis for four of the five
weeks during the meet. The lone exception is a six-day week beginning October 6
and continuing through Columbus Day, October 11.
In addition to Thursday, there will be night racing on five other occasions
(October 8, 21-22, and 28-29). Evening post times are 7:05 p.m. All other days
are 1 p.m.