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Wait a While dominates American Oaks Arindel Farm's WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) had already established herself as one of the leaders of the three-year-old filly division on the main track, but judging by the way the Todd Pletcher pupil slammed her opponents in the $750,000 American Oaks Invitational S. (G1) at Hollywood Park on Sunday, it seems that her true home could be on the turf. With Garrett Gomez aboard, Wait a While rushed past her straining foes leaving the far turn and stormed to an emphatic 4 1/2-length victory in a sparkling 1:59 1/5 for the 1 1/4 miles on the firm turf. She thus became the first American-bred filly who was also American-based to win in the five-year history of the American Oaks. Gomez patiently bided his time in fourth as Attima (GB) (Zafonic) dictated affairs up front through an even tempo of :23 4/5, :47 4/5 and 1:12. Rounding the far turn, as Attima came up empty, she drifted out and bumped Foxysox (GB) (Foxhound), and neither was heard from thereafter. At the same time as that incident occurred, Wait a While was ranging up three-wide, and once she deployed her scintillating acceleration, getting the mile in 1:36, the only question was what the winning margin would be. Toiling in the winner's wake were Japanese shipper Asahi Rising (Jpn) (Royal Touch), the 8-5 favorite who unexpectedly had been racing well off the pace, and Canadian invader Arravale (Arch), involved in their own private war for runner-up honors. Asahi Rising outdueled her rival by a half-length, but it was another six lengths back to the fourth-place finisher, Galileo's Star (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]). Despite the utter comprehensiveness of her victory on the course, Wait a While's connections had to do just that before being able to celebrate. Because of the brief scrimmaging on the turn, Foxysox's rider Alex Bisono claimed foul against the winner, alleging that Wait a While was the culprit. The stewards saw the matter differently, deciding that Attima was at fault for the barging, and disallowed the objection. Dispatched as the third choice in the wagering at nearly 3-1, Wait a While provided mutuels of $7.80, $3.60 and $3. Asahi Rising returned $3.40 and $2.60, and Arravale paid $4.40 at 11-1. The $1 exotics totaled $13.50 (exacta), $75.70 (trifecta) and with the 44-1 longshot Galileo's Star in fourth, $933.20 (7-1-3-4 superfecta). Sol Mi Fa (Ire) (Distant Music) was fifth, followed by Foxysox, Proxenia (GB) (Pursuit of Love) and Attima. Wait a While's scorecard now stands at 10-5-1-3, and her earnings have essentially doubled to $888,087. Her only previous start on the grass was last September at Belmont Park, when she broke her maiden by five lengths. The gray captured the off-the-turf Miss Grillo S. in her next outing, and from that point on, she was campaigned on the main track. After routing the field by 14 lengths in the sloppy Davona Dale S. (G2), Wait a While placed in the Bonnie Miss S. (G2) and Ashland S. (G1). In the Kentucky Oaks (G1), she was promoted to third via disqualification. Pletcher tried to switch her to the lawn for the Sands Point S. (G3) at Belmont Park, but that event was rained off the turf, and she once again showed her affinity for an off track with a facile 4 1/2-length score. Bred by W. S. Farish and W. Temple Webber Jr. in Kentucky, the winner was sold for $260,000 at the 2005 OBS February sale as a two-year-old in training. She is the first registered foal from the winning A.P. Indy mare Flirtatious, who has also produced a 2006 colt by Pleasantly Perfect. Wait a While's granddam is Grand Charmer (Lord Avie), a Grade 3 winner on the grass. The family traces to the Northern Dancer mare Sleek Dancer, whose notable descendants include 1987 Irish Derby (Ire-G1) hero Sir Harry Lewis, 1994 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (Jpn-G1) winner Chokai Carol, multiple stakes victor and sire Northern Prospect, and 2000 Ramona H. (G1) queen Caffe Latte (Ire).
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