Oak Leaf

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of 13 juvenile fillies has been entered to go 1 1/16 miles in the
$300,000 Oak Leaf S. (G1) at Santa Anita on Sunday, and we’re tabbing REPO (In
Excess [Ire]) to get back to her winning ways. The Doug O’Neill charge captured
three of her first four starts, and finished a decent fifth, just two lengths
back of winner Mi Sueno (Pulpit), in the Darley Debutante S. (G1). She tried the
dirt at Fairplex and just missed by a nose in the Barretts Debutante S. last
out, and could continue her forward progression while returning to a synthetic
surface in this one. Victor Espinoza rides.

Darley Debutante runner-up BLIND LUCK (Pollard’s Vision) was just a length
back of Mi Sueno following a pair of easy victories. The chestnut lass broke her
maiden by 13 1/4 lengths at Calder in June, then returned a month later on the
West Coast under the tutelage of new conditioner Jerry Hollendorfer and added an
allowance victory to her line while racing over Del Mar’s Polytrack.
Hollendorfer shows a nice 20 percent win rate with runners trying a route for
the first time, and Blind Luck will be tough to hold off late under Tyler Baze.

PURE CLASS (Purge) made her racing debut in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden test at
Del Mar in early August, but it wasn’t until trainer John Sadler stretched the
dark bay miss out to a mile that she broke her maiden, doing so easily by five
lengths. The extra distance here only enhances her chances at the victory, and
Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the saddle certainly doesn’t hurt.

SOFTLY SINGING (Holy Bull) also goes for Hollendorfer, and the last-out 4
1/4-length maiden winner has a big chance in her stakes bow. The gray filly
earned a nice 98 BRIS Late Pace rating for her initial score and gets the
services of Joel Rosario. ALWAYS A PRINCESS (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) overcame a
bit of trouble to take her debut at Del Mar, rallying after being squeezed at
the start and making up more than 10 lengths to take the win. If she utilizes
that same kick, the Bob Baffert charge could be up in time. Garrett Gomez has
the call.

WHISPERING HUSH (El Corredor) is still seeking her first score, and while we
don’t think it will come in this one, the stakes-placed runner might earn a
share if she shows the same rally that earned her a 100 Late Pace rating last
out. FAIRWAY ROAD (Cuvee) is seeking her third straight win from as many starts
here following a victory in the Bustles and Bows S. at Fairplex, but she
probably will have to settle for, at best, a placing based on her numbers.

LA NEZ (Storm Cat) was third in the Darley Debutante last out and might find
the extra distance of this one too much at this point. FORBIDDEN PARADISE (Ire)
(Chineur) was a nose winner over Del Mar’s turf last out, and we’ll just watch
for now to see how she handles the surface switch. BICKERSONS (Silver Deputy) is
another who will be trying a synthetic track for the first time after racing on
the East Coast for her first three starts. We’ll let her beat us as well.

MARALAGO (Thunder Gulch), IT TIZ (Tiznow) and KALOULA (Peace Rules) all look
to need an easy spot to factor.