|
|
OAK TREE NOTEBOOK OCTOBER 22, 2009 by John Mucciolo A single graded affair took the spotlight at Oak Tree during the past weekend. Senator Ken Maddy H. (G3): Green Lantern Stables' GOTTE HAVE HER (Royal Academy) ran to her second straight graded score with a convincing two-length romp in here beneath Tyler Baze. The talented five-year-old blitzed the about 6 1/2 furlongs down the hill in a sparkling 1:12. Track Stats From a total of 42 races held over the Arcadia, California, racetrack during the week, favorites won at a 40 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 76 percent of the wins. From 31 frays contested on the Pro-Ride oval, six animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (19 percent), while none of the 11 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead. The main oval was more kind to speed, not just from a wire-to-wire standpoint, but also in the way where many winners were in striking position early. It may have been coincidence, and it could have also have been the moisture the main oval received during the week. The turf course yielded no winners leading at every call, but you didn't have to be closing from left field in order to score. Meet Totals
Post Positions (wins):
HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (10/14): 6TH -- The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained JOSHUA'S DREAM (Johannesburg) looked especially good in here when running past a clear leader in the lane under Joel Rosario. The gelded four-year-old recorded a solid final five-sixteenths in :30 3/5. 7TH -- CORONET OF A BARON (Pure Prize) finally broke through with his initial sophomore win for Eoin Harty, and we're hoping this is the start of a nice winter for the talented colt. Thursday (10/15): 7TH -- We're not sure what WARREN'S APPEAL (Bartok [Ire]) crushed in here, but the four-year-old California-bred was impressive in doing so and concluded her final quarter-mile in a sharp :23 1/5 for Jorge Gutierrez. Friday (10/16) 1ST -- SKY MARNI (Sky Mesa) ran a big one when second to a more than logical winner in here, finishing well clear of third for Sal Gonzalez. We like the sophomore miss right back against similar company, possibly even on a slight class rise. Saturday (10/17) 4TH -- ROYAL IMPORT (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) showed vast improvement in her second start for Bob Hess Jr. and the juvenile filly should be tough in her subsequent try. 6TH -- Euro import ROSE DIAMOND (Ire) (Daylami [Ire]) stormed home in her first U.S. outing for conditioner Patrick Biancone, and we feel that the three-year-old filly has a very bright future in the states. 8TH -- We didn't expect any horse in this race winning for fun, so we were very impressed by the run Gotta Have Her put forth for Jenine Sahadi. The classy mare could be a late factor in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint versus the boys. Sunday (10/18) 3RD -- ROYAL PUNISHER (Fusaichi Pegasus) did what he was supposed to in this dash for David Hofmans, but the gelded sophomore is worth watching nonetheless after finishing off his final quarter-mile in an effortless :23 3/5 under Iggy Puglisi, while speeding six panels in 1:09 1/5. 8TH -- PLAY NINE (Chapel Royal) continues to be a solid midlevel claimer on this circuit, proving his mettle on all three synthetic ovals in Southern California. Trainer William Morey is getting a solid performer after he claimed this filly. A Look Ahead Late Pick 4 - We'll keep an eye on this wager, as the sequence included winners worth $19.40, $6.80, $4 and $7.60 -- and paid $1,258! The parlay equivalent was somewhere in the $450-$500 range. The $100,000 Harold C. Ramser Sr. H. (G3) is the lone graded event this weekend.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
