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OAK TREE NOTEBOOK OCTOBER 15, 2009 by John Mucciolo On display at Oak Tree this past weekend were slew of top Breeders' Cup contenders. Lady's Secret S. (G1): Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss' homebred ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) exuded her class once again with a dominant score in here under Mike Smith. The John Shirreffs charge was 1 1/4 measured lengths clear at the line while negotiating 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 4/5. Goodwood S. (G1): Unheralded import GITANO HERNANDO (GB) (Hernando [Fr]) drove home in the lane and stubbornly held off all comers to shock this field in his stateside debut for Team Valor. The Marco Botti pupil finished off 1 1/8 miles in 1:48 1/5 with Kieren Fallon. Yellow Ribbon S. (G1): Bienstock, Winner et al's MAGICAL FANTASY (Diesis) continued her assault on California turf racing with her fourth straight success under Alex Solis, closing big late for conditioner Paddy Gallagher. The superb four-year-old got 10 panels on the firm turf in 1:59 2/5. Clement L. Hirsch Turf S. (G1): Patricia Generazio's PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem) made pretty short work in this field, leading at every call en route to a 2 1/2-length triumph. The hard-trying Florida-bred traveled 1 1/4 miles on the firm lawn in 1:59 under Elvis Trujillo. Ancient Title S. (G1): Godolphin's GAYEGO (Gilded Time) went widest into the stretch and cruised home a comfortable winner in here for Saeed bin Suroor. The ultra-talented four-year-old sped six panels in 1:08 1/5 while winning comfortably beneath Garrett Gomez. Oak Tree Mile S. (G2): Mr. and Mrs. Robert McNair's COWBOY CAL (Giant's Causeway) led at every call in an impressive front-running tally for Todd Pletcher. A three-time Grade 2 winner, the four-year-old zipped home in 1:33 for one mile with Gomez. Track Stats From a total of 52 races held over the Arcadia, California, racetrack during the four-day week, favorites won at a 40 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 58 percent of the wins, solid numbers for the opening week of a new meet. From 38 frays contested on the Pro-Ride oval, just two animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (five percent), while three of the 14 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (21 percent). For the second consecutive week, horses leading early had virtually no chance over the Pro-Ride, with just one winner each coming on Wednesday and Friday. From a post standpoint, there was good balance from the starting positions, but many winners came wide into the lane where the running might be slightly better. It does seem as though the best horse, with any sort of reasonable trip, often wins over this oval, which isn't a bad thing. Meet Totals
Post Positions (wins):
HORSES TO WATCH: Friday (10/9) 7TH -- NEKO BAY (Giant's Causeway) looked the part in a fine closing rush for Shirreffs, making a fine return in his first start since December. The oft-injured six-year-old has a world of ability and we would like nothing more than to see this one string some races together without interruption. Saturday (10/10) 1ST -- The Paco Gonzalez-trained COLOR OF COURAGE (Came Home) beat a horse we are high on for a good measure and could be any kind of prospect into his sophomore season. 2ND -- Euro import ANDINA (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) made a solid first impression on U.S. soil with a rallying win for Ben Cecil. The juvenile miss should be worth a look in her first against winners. 7TH -- RICHARD'S KID (Lemon Drop Kid), who upset the Pacific Classic S. (G1) most recently, proved that his Del Mar triumph was no fluke with a big third in here while rallying into a moderate pace. 8TH -- Zenyatta is really good! Sunday (10/11) 8TH -- Gayego is arguably one of the two best synthetic sprinters in the United States and should be a formidable presence over this same oval in early November. CROWN OF THORNS (Repent) made a big run through the inside to be second in his second off the lengthy break, and we think the honest colt would be a factor if he points to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Monday (10/12) 8TH -- FREE FLYING SOUL (Quiet American) put a solid field in her wake late for Bruce Headley, finishing off 6 1/2 panels in a brisk 1:15 1/5. The four-year-old lass should be considered in her return, regardless of the class rise she is likely to take. A Look Ahead The $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy H. (G3) is the Saturday feature, while the main attraction on Sunday is the $100,000 Harold C. Ramser Sr. H. (G3).
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