Oak Tree BC Mile

A star-studded field of six is set for Saturday’s $250,000 Oak Tree Breeders’
Cup Mile S. (G2) at Santa Anita, including last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1)
hero, SINGLETARY (Sultry Song). The Don Chatlos Jr. trainee used this event 12
months ago, finishing third by a head, to prep for the Breeders’ Cup, and could
move up to the winner’s spot here before going on for a title defense in the
Mile.

Singletary wasn’t given much of a chance in the Breeders’ Cup, sent off at
16-1, but had run well throughout 2004. During that period, the bay scored in
the San Francisco Breeders’ Cup Mile H. (G2) and Thunder Road H., as well as
placed in the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) and Frank E. Kilroe Mile H.
(G2). He opened his five-year-old season with a seventh in the Kilroe (G1) on
March 5 after being on the shelf since the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but still earned
a 107 BRIS Speed rating for his effort. Singletary quickly improved on that,
taking the Arcadia H. (G2) while earning a 101 Speed figure and most recently
added a third in the Eddie Read H. (G1) to his account. David Flores, aboard for
the Oak Tree Mile last year, stays in the saddle, and the pair look poised for a winning
run on Saturday.

DESIGNED FOR LUCK (Rahy) is our sentimental pick. The Vladimir Cerin trainee
is making his first start here since taking the 2004 Shoemaker. Winner of the
2003 edition of this race, the chestnut owns the numbers to get the job done in
this spot and has done well off layoffs in the past. However, the 16-month
vacation could hinder the eight-year-old veteran in his return. One thing is
definite, however. Cerin has said that no matter how Designed for Luck runs in
this race, he will not be going to the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

BUCKLAND MANOR (Bien Bien) is still looking for that elusive first graded
victory. Hero of the 2003 Sir Beaufort S., the Paco Gonzalez trainee hit a dry
spell last season, recording his best finish in this event, where he ran second
by a nose. The chestnut five-year-old has done much better this year, taking an
allowance before running second in the Kilroe and third in the Arcadia against
our top pick. His last race — sixth in the Shoemaker — does make us question
his readiness for this test, but we’re willing to throw that one out and give
Buckland Manor another chance. Kent Desormeaux has the call.

KING OF HAPPINESS (Spinning World) captured the Inglewood H. (G3) by a nose
in his six-year-old bow, but proceeded to place in both the Shoemaker and
American H. (G2) at Hollywood Park. The Neil Drysdale charge didn’t do so well
in the Atto Mile (Can-G1) last out, but his past talent is too great for us to
ignore in the top three. Corey Nakatani will be aboard.

WE ALL LOVE ALEYNA (Nines Wild) was second in the Del Mar Breeders’ Cup H.
(G2) last out while tying his career-best Speed rating (100), but might find
this bunch too much at this time. WILD BUDDY (Line in the Sand) was just a
half-length back in third in the above race while moving up from the claiming
ranks and might be out of his class here.