Picture: Santa Anita/Benoit Images
Two-time stakes winner Will Zen Jonathan Thomas leads three G1 horses and wins $300,000 american oaksa 1 1/4-mile turf race for 11 3-year-old fillies shall be held Sunday at Santa Anita.
The Oaks, Malibu (G1), La Brea (G1) and the remainder of the opening day card, initially scheduled for Friday, have been postponed to Sunday attributable to heavy rain anticipated in Southern California this week.
Click on right here for Santa Anita entries and outcomes.
Will Zen made his return as a 3-year-old solely after competing in opposition to older rivals for the primary time within the 1 3/8-mile Purple Carpet (G3) Nov. 23 at Del Mar. That day, she was positioned within the uncommon place of being the primary to duel. Will Zen held a small lead all through, however lastly leveled out throughout the ultimate furlong and completed two lengths forward of successful stablemate Mrs Astor. This time, Will Zen (7-2 on the morning line) shortened the gap barely, inviting the providers of high jockey Flavien Prat for the primary time.
Will Zen is 9:3-0-1 and owner-breeder Augustine Steady’s earnings are $203,164, in accordance with Conflict of Will.
As Catch Can (8-1) earned his first stakes victory on September 6 when Thomas got here again from the center subject to attain 16-1 on the 1 1/8-mile Outdated Dominion Oaks. He began in Could with a 3rd place at Santa Anita, however misplaced the Honeymoon (G3) by simply three-quarters of a size over a distance of 1 1/8 miles. The daughter of Motown, additionally from the Augustine secure, entered with a file of 11 races, 3 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, and a handbag of $320,395. Joel Rosario rides for the primary time.
Ambaya (8-1), one other Augustine secure filly, gained her debut and carried out properly in her subsequent three races earlier than heading right into a battle for fourth place in opposition to older mares and fillies within the mile at Del Mar on Nov. 24. Antonio Fres is scheduled to journey on Sunday.
Morning favourite Ashira (5 wins, 2 losses) crosses the pond searching for his first G1 win for coach Richard Baltas. At the very least on this race, he takes over from Donnacha O’Brien, the son of legendary coach Aidan O’Brien, who gained his first Breeders’ Cup victory in Juvenile Fillies Turf with Ballantina at Del Mar final month. Earlier than coming to America, Asira competed in 4 consecutive Group 1 races in Europe, everywhere in the mile, along with his greatest end being third within the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in September.
Spanish Phoenix will marketing campaign Atira with Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing and Pearland Thoroughbreds. Her file is 7:2-0-1 and her earnings are $107,013. Santa Anita-based jockey Tiago Pereira will journey Asila.
Coach Slick (20-1) is trying to make amends with coach Phil D’Amato, who misplaced him to No. 1 favourite in Autumn Miss (G3), a sophomore filly working the mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 26. Slick, who was picked 9-5 by bettors that day, raced within the midfield from starting to finish and was fully unaffected when he checked in for fifth place. Earlier than that, the daughter of Oasis Dream ran a mile on grass at Santa Anita in September and gained the prize.
Slick is owned by Little Purple Feather, Sterling Stables and Marcia Neifai. She shall be ridden by common rider Humberto Rispoli.
Ribbons (15-1) shall be making his stakes debut for coach Leonard Powell. Liams Mapp’s daughter is more likely to be the pacesetter. All of her wins got here from races within the lead. That features a first-level allowance win on the turf mile on Oct. 30 at Del Mar. Ribbons, owned by Sondereker Racing, will use common rider Mirko DeMuro on the irons.
