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OAK TREE NOTEBOOK OCTOBER 29, 2009 by John Mucciolo A single graded affair on the lawn took the spotlight at Oak Tree during the past week. Harold C. Ramser, Sr. H. (G3): Forging Oaks Farm's APRIL PRIDE (GB) (Falbrav [Ire]) proved much the best against a solid cast to win this one in style for trainer James Cassidy. The three-year-old filly drove home in 1:34 for the one mile turf test beneath Garrett Gomez. Track Stats From a total of 42 races held over the Arcadia, California, racetrack during the week, favorites won at a 43 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 67 percent of the wins. From 29 frays contested on the Pro-Ride oval, five animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (17 percent), while one of the 13 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (8 percent). This was the second consecutive week with a lot of winners hailing from the first two betting options. We give some credit to the handicappers, and more of the praise to the consistency of the main oval. Well done, and it's good to see a predictable surface heading toward the biggest days of racing in the United States. The three innermost post positions thrived all week, but some of that was surely due to smaller fields. Early speed was once again not much of an advantage, with four of the five wire-to-wire winners on the main strip going postward favored. Meet Totals
Post Positions (wins):
HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (10/21) 2ND -- RANGER HEARTLEY (Lost Soldier) gave a fair impression that he's too much for this level with an authoritative, 12 1/4-length romp under Rafael Bejarano. The impressive runner will likely not be entered for a tag anytime soon by John Sadler. Thursday (10/22) 3RD -- While we liked the winner in here as well, first-time starter ELEGANT (Maria's Mon) gave an indication that she, too, can run when closing from last to be a clear second for Bob Hess Jr. We'll tab the miss for a win next out. Friday (10/23) 6TH -- STAND TALL (Tejano Run) is ultra-tough at this level and avoided being claimed from conditioner Julio Canani. The five-year-old gelding can surely win with a class rise, as well. Saturday (10/24) 1ST -- BAD BOY (Petionville) wore down a decent field to win like a good thing for Canani, who continues to have tremendous success with class droppers. The five-year-old gelding got 6 1/2 furlongs in a sharp 1:15 1/5. 3RD -- MOON DE FRENCH (Malibu Moon) aced her first route assignment for Bob Baffert, controlling throughout in a visually sharp performance. We have no idea if the improving lass topped anything much in here, but she came home quite well after proving to be rateable early under Gomez. 4TH -- Kathy Walsh's debuter BLAZING (Blazonry) was last in the lane but closed quite well to register a fast-finishing third against a solid field in here. The juvenile colt apparently has a bright future ahead of him. A Look Ahead There are no graded events this weekend at Oak Tree.
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