Stellar Wind returns in Summertime Oaks

Stellar Wind returns to action on Saturday at Santa Anita Park (Benoit Photos)

Grade 1 heroine Stellar Wind (Curlin) returns to action on Saturday in Santa
Anita Park’s $200,000

Summertime Oaks (G2) following a troubled fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1)
on May 1.

The chestnut miss was made the 3-1 favorite for the Kentucky Oaks at
Churchill Downs, but never had a chance after being steadied at the break,
falling 10 lengths behind the leader and forced nine wide around the final turn.
The John Sadler pupil put her best hoof forward to rally for fourth on the wire
under jockey Victor Espinoza, who would go on one day later to begin his Triple
Crown journey aboard American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the Kentucky Derby
(G1).

Stellar Wind exited the Kentucky Oaks in good order and will try to get back
to her winning ways at the same track over which she triumphed in the Santa
Anita Oaks (G1) and Santa Ysabel S. (G3) to open the year. Espinoza has been
aboard for all of the filly’s three-year-old starts and retains the mount on
Saturday.

Nine fellow sophomore fillies will line up against Stellar Wind in the 1
1/16-mile Summertime Oaks, including Sheer Pleasure (Birdonthewire), Scat Means
Go (Scat Daddy) and Fantastic Style (Harlan’s Holiday).

Sheer Pleasure faces graded rivals for the first time in the Summertime Oaks (Benoit Photos)

Since that March 6 affair, Sheer Pleasure has captured the 6 1/2-furlong
Evening Jewel S. and 1 1/16-mile Melair S., both at Santa Anita with Tyler Baze
in the irons. The reinsman retains the mount on Saturday as the dark bay filly
faces graded competition for the first time.

Scat Means Go captured her initial win at Sunland Park and remained at that
track to run third, before being placed second via disqualification of another
rival, in the Sunland Park Oaks two back. Trained by Henry Dominguez, the
chestnut lass filled the third spot last out in the Eight Belles S. (G3) and
will be making her acquaintance with both Santa Anita and jockey Gary Stevens
for the first time in the Summertime Oaks.

Fantastic Style (Harlan’s Holiday) has yet to finish worse than third in her
five-race career thus far. The Bob Baffert pupil was second in her debut on
December 27, then broke her maiden by three lengths one month later. She took an
allowance/optional claimer before being shipped from Santa Anita Park to
Keeneland for the Beaumont S. (G2). The bay miss ran third in that seven-furlong
affair but returned to Santa Anita on May 16 for a 3 1/4-length triumph in the
Angel’s Flight S. at the same distance. Martin Garcia has the call.

Others to watch in the Summertime Oaks include Tara’s Tango (Unbridled’s
Song), runner-up in both the Angel’s Flight and Santa Paula S. after setting a
new track record over Del Mar’s synthetic Polytrack when breaking her maiden
last year, and Grade 1-placed Danette (Curlin), who has yet to visit the
winner’s circle but is the most experienced entrant in the field with 12 starts
under her girth.