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OAK TREE NOTEBOOK SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 Opening Preview by John Mucciolo The Oak Tree Racing Association will open its doors for business on Wednesday for their fantastic fall meeting. Highlighted by the second consecutive running of the 26th edition of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on November 6-7, the Southern California venue will host live racing through Sunday, November 8. Racing during the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita will be contested on Pro-Ride for the second consecutive year, making it the third of three unique ovals at the major Southern California locales. This synthetic mixture has arguably been the most consistent main strip in the Golden State, while the turf course is among the best in North America. A slew of Breeders' Cup prep events will take place at the Arcadia, California racetrack, seven coming in the Grade 1 variety. A few key dates to mark down, in addition to Breeders’ Cup weekend, are as follows: Saturday, October 3: The day when California-bred runners get to shine in the form of California Cup Day. The main event is the $200,000 California Cup Classic. Sunday, October 4: The $300,000 Norfolk S. (G1) and $300,000 Oak Leaf S. (G1), a pair of 1 1/16 miles tests for juvenile males and fillies, will highlight the opening weekend. Saturday, October 10: This marks the final serious weekend of preps takes place, led by the $350,000 Goodwood S. (G1), $300,000 Yellow Ribbon S. (G1), $300,000 Lady’s Secret S. (G1) and the $150,000 Oak Tree Mile S. (G2). Sunday, October 11: Sunday features the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Championship S. (G1) and the $300,000 Ancient Title H. (G1). The Breeders' Cup became a showcase for some of the top European-based athletes in 2008, and we are sure that the synthetic surface had something to do with making the Championships a more global event. We expect to see even more international raiders in 2009, but we will focus more on the local stars that we expect to see during the five-week run. Champion ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]): We have to start with the queen of the west, the unbeaten John Shirreffs trainee who has run clear on 12 consecutive tries. The long-striding mare was easily best in nearly every race of her career and just might face males in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The Lady's Secret will be the next stopping point for the five-year-old. The Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) will have a new champ for the first time since 2006 with two-time star Midnight Lute retired, but Bob Baffert's speed merchant ZENSATIONAL (Unbridled's Song) will hope to give the silver-haired conditioner his third consecutive and fourth overall win in this dash. He will likely be training up to the Sprint. Baffert also has a highly-promising juvenile in the undefeated LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), who is unbeaten and just bagged the Del Mar Futurity (G1). We expect to see the rising star in the Norfolk in advance of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Defending Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint romper VENTURA (Chester House) seems poised for a repeat after blowing past her male counterparts in a stylish tally in the Woodbine Mile S. (Can-G1) last weekend. The Bobby Frankel-trained five-year-old is explosive and loves Santa Anita. Multiple Grade 1 heroine MAGICAL FANTASY (Diesis [GB]) has rapidly ascended to the peak of the turf distaff division out here and is expected for the Yellow Ribbon prior to Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1). Kentucky Derby (G1) star MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) is not exactly a local hero, but the gelding is set to contest the Goodwood prior to facing the big boys in the Classic for Chip Woolley. He was unplaced in the Juvenile last October but is infinitely better at this stage of his career. MIDSHIPMAN (Seeking the Gold), the 2008 champion juvenile, made his much anticipated return to racing with a sensational allowance coup over a stakes-quality field at Belmont recently, and the ultra-talented colt will likely return to the place that vaulted him to stardom. He could wind up in either the Breeders' Cup Dirt (G1) or Classic. Other horses we look forward to seeing at Oak Tree include Pacific Classic (G1) upsetter RICHARD'S KID (Lemon Drop Kid), Santa Anita H. (G1) victor RAIL TRIP (Jump Start), champion and defending Filly and Mare Turf victress FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me), dual champion INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) and reigning Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner DESERT CODE (E Dubai), who is the top draw in Wednesday's Morvich H. (G3). It should be an exciting meet!
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