Nereid, Cambina meet again; Summer Soiree invades for Del Mar Oaks

Nereid, Cambina meet again; Summer Soiree invades for Del

Mar Oaks

Saturday's $250,000

Del Mar

Oaks (G1) will feature a dynamite field of 10 three-year-old fillies at 1

1/8 miles on turf, including American Oaks (G1) dead-heaters NEREID (Rock Hard

Ten) and CAMBINA (Ire) (Hawk Wing); SUMMER SOIREE (War Front), who ships in for

Team Valor and Graham Motion off a smashing 8 1/4-length score in the Boiling

Springs S. (G3); and San Clemente H. (G2) winner UP IN TIME (GB) (Noverre).

Nereid has lost only one-of-four career starts, finishing second to eventual

Grade 1 winner Zazu (Tapit) in her career debut last November, and is unbeaten

since switching to turf this season. Trained by John Shirreffs, the dark bay

filly narrowly captured a maiden special weight when making a belated sophomore

debut on May 7 and followed with an easy tally over entry-level allowance rivals

on June 2. She made her stakes debut in the 1 1/4-mile American Oaks on July 16,

setting the pace throughout before settling for a dead-heat victory with the

fast-closing Cambina. The improving Nereid will retain the services of Joe

Talamo.

After dropping her U.S. bow in January, Cambina reeled off three consecutive

victories in the La Habra S. (G3), China Doll S. and Providencia S. (G2). The

Jeff Bonde-trained chestnut recorded a pair of thirds in the Senorita (G3) and

Honeymoon (G2), beaten only a half-length in the latter after a furious late

rally, before returning to the winner's circle in the American Oaks. Garrett Gomez, who

is three-for-three aboard the classy filly, will regain the mount.

Summer Soiree is extremely versatile, recording dominant wins on dirt,

synthetics and turf this year, and her Boiling Springs form suggests that she

may be best on grass. She was making her turf debut last time and registered a

101 BRIS Speed rating for the impressive showing. Regular rider Gabriel Saez

will be in to guide the exciting speedster.

Up in Time rallied to win going away in the local prep, the July 24 San

Clemente, and the Simon Callaghan trainee doesn't figure to be 11-1 this time.

Rafael Bejarano has the assignment aboard the late runner. CELESTIAL KITTEN

(Kitten's Joy), a good third when making her first attempt for trainer Ben Cecil

in the San Clemente, will also return for the Oaks.

STAR BILLING (Dynaformer), ENTRUSTMENT (Forestry) and BIZZY CAROLINE (Afleet

Alex) -- the respective third-, fourth- and fifth-place finishers in the

American Oaks, add further depth to the line-up. Star Billing gives Shirreffs

another dangerous win candidate. Winner of the Senorita in her second career

outing two back, the lightly-raced filly recorded a close second in the

Honeymoon before missing by only a head in the American Oaks. Entrustment will

bring improving form into the race for Paddy Gallagher, winding up only a neck

back in the tight five-horse finish last time, and Regret (G3) winner Bizzy

Caroline is eligible to show more in her second Southern Californian start for

Kenny McPeek.

Honeymoon winner SARAH'S SECRET (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) also merits respect.

She opened her career with four straight wins before recording a surprising

sixth as the favorite in the San Clemente, and will attempt to rebound Saturday

for Carla Gaines.

Italian Group 1 runner-up SINGAPORE LILLY (Ire) (Mujadil), unplaced in two

U.S. starts, rounds out the main body of the field. HALO DOLLY (Popular),

ROSEHILL DEW (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) and DYNAMO (Dynaformer) will all have to

draw in from the also-eligibles list to start.