Del Mar Oaks at Del Mar
Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks is on tap for this Saturday, August 18 from, where else, Del Mar Raceway in beautiful Southern California. Three year old fillies will race one and one eighth miles on Del Mar's turf track in search of their share of the $300,000 purse.
The Del Mar Oaks has attracted a field of 10 including the top three finishers in the American Oaks and San Clemente Handicap to go in race 8 on Del Mar's Saturday card. Post time is 5:30 PM. Let's take a look at all of the entries headed by an interesting showdown between Eden's Moon and Lady of Shamrock.
2012 Del Mar Oaks Race Favorites
Eden's Moon - bounced back from a horrendous last place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks over the Del Mar Oaks distance with a decent second in the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks on June 23. Last time out was a very impressive victory in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap. The Bob Baffert trained filly also has a third at the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on March 31, an impressive score at the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes on March 3 and a win in a Maiden Special Weight race at Santa Anita on January 8. The San Clemente was Eden's Moon's first try on turf - it looks like this filly may become a turfer for the foreseeable future!
Lady of Shamrock - is a four time stakes winner who finished a close second in the Honeymoon Handicap on June 9 to My Gi Gi and then bounced back with a terrific win in the Grade 1 American Oaks for her fifth win in seven races. Those results followed a win in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita on April 7. Lady of Shamrock has won five of nine career starts including the Blue Northern Stakes on December 30 and the China Doll Stakes. The Honeymoon Handicap was her only blemish since January and it was a small one at that.
Del Mar Oaks 2012 | Remaining Field Entries
My Gi Gi - won her first graded stakes race - the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap over fellow Del Mar Oaks entries Lady of Shamrock and Stormy Lucy to follow an OK second in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes on May 5. Last time out was a second to Lady of Shamrock in the Grade 1 American Oaks on July 14. She also had a fourth in the Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita in October followed by a twelfth in the Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Despite some pedestrian early-career results, My Gi Gi is in good form as demonstrated by her win and two second place finishes in her last three starts.
Open Water - finished a decent third in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes but followed it up with a disappointing seventh in the Hollywood Oaks. Last time out was an impressive second in her turf debut in the Grade 2 San Clemente. She started her 2012 campaign with two straight wins - an Allowance and a Maiden Special Weight race and may have found a new home on turf.
Del Mar Oaks betting at Del Mar with OffTrackBetting.com
Indigo River - is a European transplant that has had some success already in North America winning her debut - an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita on January 13 and following it up with a win in the minor Sweet Life Stakes also at Santa Anita on February 12. Her last two races have resulted in acceptable third place finishes in the China Doll Stakes and most recently the Grade 2 San Clemente. Indigo River has placed in all four of her North American starts and could be a factor on Saturday.
Stormy Lucy - had won three straight races before the Honeymoon Handicap - two Allowance races and the Golden Poppy Stakes at Golden Gate on May 6. She finished a respectable third in the Honeymoon by just a half length and followed that up with a pedestrian fifth in the Grade 1 American Oaks.
Long Face - last time out won an Allowance Optional Claiming race on this track to follow a runner-up finish in the Le Cle Stakes and a fifth in the Honeymoon Handicap. Long Face has two wins and a second place finish in six career starts.
Mary Fildes - is a dual Group 3 placed filly making just her second start in North America. Her first start resulted in a third place finish behind Long Face in an Allowance Optional Claiming here on July 26.
Best Present Ever - made her graded stakes debut last time out with a respectable third in the American Oaks to follow a three race win streak including the Campanile Stakes at Golden Gate. Best Present Ever has three wins, a second and two third place finishes in seven career starts.
Cozze Up Lady - finished third last time out in her stakes debut - the Indiana Downs Distaff after winning two of her three previous starts - an Allowance on June 8 and a Maiden Special Weight on March 10.
