The connections of Santa Anita Oaks (G1) winner TURBULENT DESCENT (Congrats)
have all but ruled out a bid at the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and will instead
point the filly toward shorter races, trainer Mike Puype told Daily Racing
Form on Tuesday.
Turbulent Descent captured the Santa Anita Oaks last Saturday by a neck over
Zazu (Tapit), a rival that beat her two starts back in the Las Virgenes S. (G1).
“She may have pulled herself up making the lead,” Pupye told the trade daily.
With concerns about the filly’s ability to go beyond 1 1/16 miles, the
distance of the Santa Anita Oaks, Turbulent Descent will bypass the nine-furlong
Kentucky Oaks and prepare for one-turn races in New York this summer such as the
one-mile Acorn S. (G1) and 1 1/16-mile Mother Goose S. (G1).
“The Beaumont S. (G2) at Keeneland is an option,” said Puype, referring to
the April 17 stakes contested at about seven furlongs on Polytrack that could be
used as a prep toward the June 11 Acorn.
Owned by Blinkers On Racing Stable et al, Turbulent Descent has won all of
her starts save the Las Virgenes, where she finished second by 1 1/4 lengths. At
two, she was undefeated in three starts including the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1)
and Moccasin S. at Hollywood Park. She’s bankrolled $528,350.