Oak Tree Derby J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A field of eight three-year-olds will contest Saturday's $150,000 Oak Tree

Derby (G2) over nine grassy furlongs at Hollywood Park, and KID EDWARD (Ire)

(Singspiel [Ire]) has an excellent chance to garner his first stakes victory.

After breaking his maiden on Santa Anita's turf last December, the chestnut

didn't make his sophomore debut until July 23, returning with an easy victory

over allowance/optional claiming rivals at Del Mar, and he offered a solid late

rally for runner-up honors in his stakes bow, the August 14 La Jolla H. (G2), recording

a commendable 98 BRIS Speed rating.

Kid Edward lacked the same finishing kick when forced to race closer to the

pace in the Del Mar Derby (G2) due to the presence of lone speed Twirling Candy

(Candy Ride [Arg]), but he should revert to rating tactics here with regular

rider David Flores. The James Cassidy-trained colt is working well in

preparation and we anticipate a career-best showing.

ROYAL F J (Royal Academy) needed 11 starts to break his maiden, but he did so

in style two back at Del Mar, drawing clear to a convincing 3 1/4-length

decision. The Jack Carava charge followed with a decent third in the Del Mar

Derby and we feel the gelding owns enough tactical speed to be a forward factor

in this spot. Jockey Rafael Bejarano figures to push him a little bit from the

break to save ground from post 7 and with no confirmed front runners entered,

Royal F J could wind up on the lead himself. He may prove difficult to reel in.

Stakes winner MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein) ran well late to be fourth in the

Kentucky Derby (G1), but the bay colt will be making his first start here since

a well-beaten ninth (elevated one spot due to disqualification) in the Belmont

S. (G1). His lone career victory came on turf, so we know he can handle the

surface, and the Alexis Barba trainee shows a couple of bullet works in advance

of his re-appearance. He's run well off a freshening before, but the

Kentucky-bred will break from the far outside post and won't offer any value as

the possible favorite. We'll try to beat him for the win.

Multiple French stakes winner BLUE PANIS (Fr) (Panis) will make his U.S. bow

for trainer Fabrice Chappet in a reasonable spot, but the bay colt will be

stretching out past a mile for the first time in his career. He's kept pretty

good company in his recent starts, including a second in the Paul de Moussac

(Fr-G3) three back, and we consider him to be a logical threat for at least a

minor award.

HAIMISH HY (Ecton Park) returned from a lengthy layoff to post a 31-1 upset

in the September 3 El Cajon S. on Polytrack and will look to carry that form

forward for Art Sherman. Two-for-two on turf, his BRIS numbers are very

respectable and the distance is a good fit for the dark bay colt. We'll include

the late runner in some exotics. Multiple Group 3-placed SEBASTIAN FLYTE (GB)

(Observatory) made his U.S. debut a winning one when capturing a September 4

allowance/optional-claiming event at Del Mar and is eligible to outperform our

expectations on Saturday. However, the Ben Cecil runner will be stepping up in

both class/trip in this spot, and we fear a slight regression in his second

start stateside.

JAIRZIHNO (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) finished second in the Del Mar Derby

last time, but the maiden winner has been pretty inconsistent all year and

dropped his two previous attempts at Hollywood against lesser. Former claimer

FANTASTIC PICK (GB) (Fantastic Light) would be a surprise.