Oak Tree begins Wednesday

The Oak Tree Racing Association is set begin its 37th season of racing on

Wednesday at Santa Anita. The 31-day meet will feature 29 stakes races worth

$4,725,000 including three Grade 1 events, seven Grade 2's and three Grade 3

races.

The action gets started on Wednesday with the opening-day card feature, the $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy H. (G3),

but the opening weekend is the main attraction. Generally used as a springboard

for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, Saturday's card will

include the $500,000 Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) for fillies and mares pointing toward

the Filly and Mare Turf (G1), the $500,000 Goodwood Breeders' Cup H. (G2) for

Classic (G1) contenders, and the $200,000 Oak Leaf S. (G2) for two-year-old

fillies pointing toward the Juvenile Fillies (G1). On Sunday, the $250,000

Clement Hirsch Turf Championship (G1) will be contested by potential Turf (G1)

candidates, the $250,000 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup H. (G2) will be a final

prep for Distaff (G1) runners, and the $250,000 Norfolk S. (G2) will likely

produce entrants for the Juvenile (G1).

In addition, October 8 is the last chance for horses to prep for both the

Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and Mile (G1) when the $250,000 Ancient Title

Breeders' Cup H. (G1) and $250,000 Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile (G2) are

contested.

"We here in California, and in particular at Oak Tree, take great pride in

having been such a successful stepping stone to racing's biggest day," Oak

Tree Executive Director and Vice President Sherwood Chillingworth said. "We believe

this year will be no exception."

The remaining four graded stakes will be run over the turf. Sophomores will

go nine furlongs in the $150,000 Oak Tree Derby (G2) October 15; sprinters,

three-years-old and up, will go about 6 1/2 furlongs in the $100,000 Morvich H. (G3)

on Breeders' Cup Day, October 29; the following day, marathon

runners will go 1 1/2 miles in the $100,000 Carleton F. Burke H. (G3); and

distaff milers will contest the $150,000 Las Palmas H. (G2) on November 5.

Another feature of the meet is California Cup Day on closing day, November 6. The

card consists of 10 stakes races for California-bred horses worth $1,325,000 and will be highlighted

by the $250,000 California Cup Classic.

Post time is 1 p.m. (PDT) on weekdays, except on September 30 and

October 28, when the first race will begin at 2:30 p.m. Post time on weekends

will be 12:30 p.m. with the exception of Breeders' Cup Day and Cal Cup Day, when

racing begins at 9:40 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., respectively.