Oak Leaf

Generally used as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1),
Saturday’s Oak Leaf S. (G2) at Santa Anita has come up a little light this year.
Just seven two-year-olds will contest the 1 1/16-mile event, including Del Mar
Debutante S. (G1) queen WILD FIT (Wild Wonder), but we’ll search for a little
value and go with the lesser-known Jeff Mullins trainee, ACCELERATION (Vision and Verse).

After breaking her maiden second out and finishing fourth in the Nursery S.
at Hollywood earlier this year, Acceleration was moved to the Mullins shedrow.
The bay miss won her first start for her new trainer, annexing a 5 1/2-furlong
starter allowance event, before finishing second in her last two, the Sorrento
S. (G3) and Barretts Debutante S. In both races Acceleration closed from well
off the pace and came up short, suggesting the added distance here will be
welcome. Martin Pedroza returns to ride.

Wild Fit, a full sister to San Vicente S. (G2) hero Fusaichi Rock Star, is
undefeated from two career starts. A winner at first asking going 5 1/2
furlongs, the gray returned to romp by two in the Del Mar Debutante and has been
training forwardly since. A bullet five-furlong drill September 14 and
three-quarters in 1:12 4/5 last Wednesday should have her ready to roll in this
one, and we envision a one-two finish for Mullins.

MADRE MAY (Old Trieste) will run coupled with INDY MISS (A.P. Indy) for
Diamond A Racing, but the former will be saddled by Gary Mandella while the
latter is trained by his father, Richard Mandella. Madre May won by a neck to
break her maiden in her second career start going one mile over the Del Mar sod
and rates as a serious upset candidate with Gary Stevens in the irons while Indy
Miss, a first-out maiden winner, also could threaten after scoring by a
half-length over the same course and distance on August 29.

DIAMOND OMI (Giant’s Causeway) enters for Bob Baffert off a 3 1/2-length
score in a one-mile maiden special contest, but the chestnut will be stepping up
in class in this spot and we’ll just use her in the bottom of the gimmicks.

The James Cassidy-trained GOLDEN SILK (Somgandaprayer) ran sixth in the
Debutante and may get bet based on that performance, but that isn’t enough
to convince us. EVENING ESCORT (Stephen Got Even) was transferred to trainer Doug O’Neill
after a first-out win at Emerald Downs and could be any sort. The dark bay may
be outclassed in this spot, though, and we’ll have to let her beat us.