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Azul Leon, Midshipman highlight Norfolk; Hyperbaric tops Oak Tree Mile Oak Tree at Santa Anita will follow up its blockbuster Saturday program with a pair of graded events on Sunday. The $250,000 Norfolk S. (G1), a key prep for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), will match leading California-based juveniles AZUL LEON (Lion Heart) and MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled's Song) over 1 1/16 miles on the Pro-Ride track. The $200,000 Oak Tree Mile (G2) attracted nine turf runners, including the hard-knocking HYPERBARIC (Sky Classic), who exits a pair of victories at Del Mar for Julio Canani. Azul Leon opened his career with a maiden special weight score at Hollywood Park and then rolled to a four-length tally in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship S. (G3). After being severely compromised in the stretch and falling short by a nose on the wire in the Best Pal S. (G2) last out, the Doug O'Neill-trained colt remained unbeaten with a victory via disqualification. He'll retain the services of Rafael Bejarano. Midshipman is also undefeated, winning a maiden special weight event and the Del Mar Futurity (G1) over the Polytrack at Del Mar. Tyler Baze will keep the mount aboard the promising colt for Bob Baffert. SILENT VALOR (Lion Heart), a smart 1 1/2-length winner of the Sapling S. (G3) at Monmouth Park, has invaded Southern California for Todd Pletcher, and Kiaran McLaughlin has shipped in REGAL RANSOM (Distorted Humor), who exits a good-looking debut win at Saratoga. Del Mar Futurity third-placer STREET HERO (Street Cry [Ire]) will also return for the Norfolk. The Oak Tree Mile has implications for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Hyperbaric had been knocking on the door of a stakes victory, finishing second in the Arcadia H. (G2) and third in the Shoemaker Mile S. (G1) and American H. (G2), before breaking through in the Harry F. Brubaker H. last time out. The five-year-old gelding rolled to a 2 1/4-length decision that afternoon, and Garrett Gomez will take the reins once again on Sunday. Other contenders include Grade 1-placed TROPIC STORM (Stormy Atlantic); Irish import FERNELEY (Ire) (Ishiguru), a Group 3 winner who is now with Ben Cecil; and Del Mar Mile H. (G2) third-placer GLOBAL HUNTER (Arg) (Jade Hunter). AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again) would also merit respect in the Oak Tree Mile, but he's cross-entered to Saturday's All American S. (G3) and will likely ship to Golden Gate Fields, according to trainer Craig Dollase. Kicking off the day's stakes action is the $65,000 Pine Tree Lane S. for distaffers at 6 1/2 furlongs. Las Flores H. (G3) queen TIZ ELEMENTAL (Cee's Tizzy), who missed by a nose in the Rancho Bernardo H. (G3) last time out, appears to have the edge over her six rivals. Multiple stakes victress SPENDITALLBABY (Unusual Heat) has been off form of late, but she does own a win over Tiz Elemental in the B. Thoughtful S. earlier in the year. Also noteworthy are Grade 3 heroine MAGNIFICIENCE (Stormy Atlantic), most recently a closing fifth in the Rancho Bernardo, and COCO BELLE (Storm Boot), who captured a division of the C.E.R.F. H. two back.
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