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.