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OAK TREE NOTEBOOK OCTOBER 24, 2008 by Dick Powell Form returned to the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet in a big way in week four as favorites dominated on all surfaces. Week three saw the percentage of winning favorites plummet on races run on the Pro-Ride but they were back in force during week four. Overall, 20 favorites won the 43 races run on both surfaces. On Pro-Ride, 14 favorites won the 33 races for a win percentage of 42.42 -- way above the previous week's figure of 27.10 percent. On the turf, form continued to rule with six favorites winning the 10 races for a gaudy 60 percent strike rate. The trend that began in week three of reduced field sizes continued. A total of 33 races on the Pro-Ride averaged 7.94 starters per race while 10 races on the turf averaged 7.60 starters per race. The star of week four was Horses to Watch PRINCE REXY (Aus) (Redoute's Choice), who was a good second going a mile in his second start in the United States for Neil Drysdale. Brought back off just two weeks rest and stretched out to 1 1/4 miles on the turf, Prince Rexy showed up in a second-level allowance/optional claimer on the firm going with the rail set out at 24 feet. You Got Me Rocking (Aljabr) and Victorian Prince (Ire) (Desert Prince [Ire]) were on a mission right from the start and set out on a suicidal speed duel. They covered the first quarter in 23.02 and the half in 46.07. Rafael Bejarano sat comfortably in third aboard Prince Rexy and was content to let the pacesetters duel themselves into submission. He made his move around the far turn after six furlongs in 1:09.59 and quickly joined the leaders. You Got Me Rocking stubbornly held on to maintain a clear lead in the stretch but, nearing the eighth-pole, Prince Rexy asserted himself and went on to a two-length victory while Bejarano was throttling him down. His final time for the 10 furlongs was a spectacular 1:58.69. Considering that the rail was out at 24 feet, Prince Rexy's time of 1:58.69 compares favorably with Red Giant's (Giant's Causeway) world record time of 1:57.16 that was set in the first week of the meet when the rail was down completely. You might not know Prince Rexy's sire but Redoute's Choice (Danehill) is one of the world's great sires with 14 Group 1 stakes winners and dozens of yearlings who have sold for more than $1 million. Two years ago, the most exciting turf horse in Southern California was the New Zealand-bred CROSSING THE LINE (NZ) (Cape Cross [Ire]). This year, it looks like it's going to be Australia's Prince Rexy. Speed continued to do well on the turf course, and in week four the rail was out 24 feet for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, there were no two-turn turf races and the rail was set at 15 feet for downhill turf sprints. The Pro-Ride continued to play fair with a variety of running styles being successful. One thing that I have noticed, and until I see it more I'll chalk it up to being anecdotal, but it seems that speed does better at the beginning of the day compared to the end of the day. It could be because many races with short fields are run earlier in the card, where speed might have an edge, and large fields are usually carded for the last race, where speed horses run themselves into the ground. You might give a few extra points to speed horses who either win the last race or hang on gamely. Track Stats
HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (10/15) 1ST -- BODACAT (Tomorrows Cat) was three wide on the first turn behind a very slow pace where the winner went gate to wire. 2ND -- You Got Me Rocking held well despite dueling through fast fractions going 10 furlongs behind future superstar Prince Rexy. Thursday (10/16) 7TH -- DONA AMELIA (Chi) (Big Blue) was flying through the lane in a turf sprint but has run well going longer in the past. 8TH -- DON'T FORGET MUQ (Muqtarib) held on gamely after rushing up from the rail after a poor start. Friday (10/17) 7TH -- DRAFT CHOICE (Bertrando) was a good third in his two-turn turf debut and merits another chance. Saturday (10/18) 3RD -- AVONDELAY (Old Topper) was a good second in her career debut for Kristin Mulhall, who only wins with 2 percent of her first-time starters. 7TH -- ALL TOO SOLID (El Corredor) was an even third in her career debut and should be ready to graduate on either surface next time out. Sunday (10/19) 4TH -- PROTECTOROFALLEVIL (Chief Seattle) was used hard from post nine to dispute the pace going seven furlongs on a track that was not kind to speed. 7TH -- MISS ANZIAYAN (Anziyan) was a good third after opening a clear lead and holding on to deep stretch.
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