American Oaks an all California affair

American Oaks an all California affair

The second-, third- and fourth-place finishers from the May 31 Honeymoon H.

(G2) will face off once again when they break from the chute in Saturday's

$250,000

American Oaks (G1) at Hollywood Park. The 1 1/4-mile turf event drew a field

of eight, but only two have ever competed at this level before with neither

coming close to the win.

COZI ROSIE (Pleasantly Perfect) was one of those two, fading to fifth in the

Santa Anita Oaks (G1) in her stakes bow on March 6. The John Sadler runner

transferred to turf following that race, but never got on track in the

Providencia S. (G2), winding up seventh behind CITY TO CITY (City Zip). Cozi

Rosie finally made it to the stakes winner's circle with a length score in the Senorita

S. (G3), then took on Ashland S. (G1) winner and Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up

Evening Jewel (Northern Afleet) in the Honeymoon last out.

The chestnut miss rated in last during the opening stages of that

nine-furlong affair, found her best stride in deep stretch and closed rapidly on

the far outside to throw a brief scare into Evening Jewel's supporters before

coming up a head short on the line. Cozi Rosie should relish the extra distance

in this one under regular rider Mike Smith.

City to City was third, just a length back of Cozi Rosie, in the Honeymoon,

filling the same exact spot by the same exact distance from when the pair met in

the Senorita. Though City to City was an easy winner of the Providencia in their

first outing, the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee hasn't been able to finish in front

of Cozi Rosie since and will be looking to turn the tables here. Joel Rosario

will stay in the saddle.

ANDINA (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) has competed in that same series of races,

running second in the Providencia and Senorita then coming in fourth in the

Honeymoon, and will try to derail the top two while earning her first black-type

victory. Rafael Bejarano takes over the mount from regular pilot Joe Talamo, who

will be at Belmont Park to ride I Want Revenge (Stephen Got Even) in the

Suburban H. (G2).

Besides Cozi Rosie, RIVIERA CHIC (Medaglia d'Oro) is the only other Grade 1

participant in the field. The bay filly competed in the Santa Anita Oaks as well,

but was never a threat while finishing seventh and last.

Earlier on Hollywood Park's Saturday program, six fillies and mares will go

in the $150,000

Royal Heroine Mile (G2) on the turf. Former claimer U R ALL THAT I AM (Valid

Wager) brings a two-race win streak into the test, having added the Fran's

Valentine S. and B. Thoughtful S. to her career line this year. Among those

she'll face are Grade 2 queen GOTTA HAVE HER (Royal Academy), a close sixth in

the Gamely S. (G1) last out and third in the 2009 edition of the Royal Heroine

Mile; ROSEY DE MEGEVE (GB) (Efisio), a head runner-up in the Redondo Beach S.;

and EXQUISITE (NZ) (Golan [Ire]), fourth by just three parts of a length in the

Redondo Beach.