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OAK TREE NOTEBOOK NOVEMBER 10, 2005 by Bernard T. Moore The Las Palmas H. (G2) was Saturday's feature and Sunday was the final day of the Oak Tree meet. That means the curtain has come down on turf racing in Southern California for the time being, due to Hollywood Park experiencing problems with its new grass course. Even though 10 horses entered the starting gate for the Las Palmas, the race began as a virtual match race between MEA DOMINA (Dance Brightly) and Elusive Diva (Elusive Quality). The duo immediately put daylight between themselves and the rest of the field as they raced down the Santa Anita Park backstretch. Mea Domina, who had not been seen under silks since annexing the Gamely Breeders' Cup H. (G1) at Hollywood Park this spring, dictated the early fractions with Elusive Diva in close attendance. Despite returning from a layoff, Mea Domina refused to yield on the lead, fending off a bold challenge from her pace nemesis in the stretch. The wire-to-wire winner proved best by a length and Elusive Diva held on grimly in deep stretch to save the place by a neck over Star Parade (Arg) (Parade Marshal). The third-place finisher raced within striking distance of the pacesetters throughout, but lacked the necessary response late and gained the show in what was easily her best effort to date on grass. A crowd in excess of 22,000 was in attendance at Santa Anita on Sunday for Cal Cup Day. The card also marked the end of the Oak Tree meet, as Santa Anita will remain shuttered until December. For those unfamiliar with Cal Cup Day, it is day that is set aside each year to showcase California-bred runners. The racing program consists of 10 stakes races on both turf and dirt, with purse money totaling $1.325 million. The Cal Cup is undoubtedly the highlight of the Oak Tree meet, and on track wagering belied that fact. Betting rose considerably for the Sunday card, and that can be traced to the large, competitive fields on-hand. While every stakes contest was exciting and unique in its own way, I will just recap the California Cup Classic H., a race for three-year-olds and up at nine furlongs. Much like Saturday's feature, the early leaders paraded around the track and reported home in exactly the same order. MCCANN'S MOJAVE (Memo [Chi]) immediately gained the early lead from his inside post with 7-5 favorite Desert Boom (Boomerang) in hot pursuit. Despite throwing down a third quarter in :23.41, McCann's Mojave could not shake Desert Boom, who drew alongside him in midstretch. With little to chose between the two at this point, the front runner was emboldened by the challenge, and McCann's Mojave reasserted himself in deep stretch despite drifting out a bit under pressure. Desert Boom proved ultra game in defeat, but he was simply second best on this day as he could not pass the winner. Cheroot (Smokester) stalked the pace from along the inside and finished evenly for third. Texcess (In Excess [Ire]) found his best stride upon entering the stretch, but failed to sustain that rally and could do no better than fourth. The main track played quite fairly in sprints to begin the week, than began slanting toward early speed runners on Friday. On Saturday, front runners ruled in sprints contests. In route contests run through Saturday, early speed was crucial. On Sunday, Cal Cup Day, the track again played favorably to speed. The grass course appeared bias free all week, with no particular running style possessing an advantage. There were no distinguishable path biases. Garrett Gomez captured the riding title as expected, with Martin Pedroza a distant second. Patrick Valenzuela finished third with Alex Solis and Jon Court rounding out the top five. Steve Knapp finished with a flourish to take down the training title. Jeff Mullins was but a single victory behind in second, with Bob Baffert and John Sadler tying for the fourth spot. HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (11/2) 6TH – KHYBER PASS (Running Stag) ran a sharp second dropping and turning back to a sprint. Recaptured his early speed to argue the early pace and held gamely. Has won sprinting and over a distance of ground, with his most recent victory coming at Hollywood Park. 8TH – APPEALING SAINT (Sweetsouthernsaint) put forth a useful effort off a prolonged break. Chased a very hot pace before retreating in the stretch. Should have derived beneficial conditioning from this effort. Thursday (11/3) 3RD – CRONENBOLD (Exploit) was forced to chase an excruciatingly quick pace down the hill off the shelf. Continued on well while reducing his deficit late. May appreciate a return to dirt, the surface of his lone career victory. Narrowly missed breaking his maiden over his home base, Hollywood Park. 4TH – BULITA (Knockadoon) ran an improved third on the dirt while dropping. Finished with interest late behind a perfect trip winner. Will make next start for owner/trainer Mark Glatt, who does well off the claim. Friday (11/04) 2ND – BOB AND JOHN (Seeking the Gold) finished a creditable second off a freshening versus winners. Sat farther off the pace than in his impressive maiden special weight win. Closed with good energy behind an odds-on favorite who was exiting a second in a Grade 2 stakes. Useful "bridge race" to get Bob and John to win at the next level. 3RD – SINGALONG (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) rallied strongly in the lane to just miss despite being saddled with an outside post. European-bred runner might need blinkers to get her over the hump for that elusive, initial career victory. Saturday (11/05) 3RD – KRISTINE'S KING (El Prado [Ire]) was hard used setting a hot and pressured pace with the hood off. Would benefit from a cutback to a flat mile and maybe a slight drop in class. 8TH – CINDAGO (Indian Charlie) was a good second in his well bet/well meant debut effort. Overcame an outside post attend a lively pace that was set by the even-money favorite over a speed biased track. Should show progress off this effort as trainer John Sadler has a weak record with first timers. 9TH – Elusive Diva ran a game second stretching out to a flat mile. Saddled with a tough task, chasing a superior speed rival over a distance of ground. All three turf victories have come at Santa Anita, but running "down the hill." Sunday (11/6) 11TH – BORDONARO (Memo [Chi]) put forth an impressive front-running score in very fast time, which eclipsed that of the California Sprint H. by .052! Rated nicely on the lead and drew clear when ready. Could repeat this effort if not ambitiously spotted in his next start. Has won at Hollywood in the past.
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