American Oaks Stakes at Hollywood Park
Las Vegas, NV - Betfair Hollywood Park is the scene for the 11th running of the Grade 1 American Oaks Stakes this Saturday, July 14th during the last weekend of racing at Hollywood Park this summer. A stellar purse of $400,000 is on the line for three year old fillies willing to go 1 ¼ miles on Hollywood Park's turf track.
Nine females have been entered in the American Oaks including the top three finishes at the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap raced here on June 9th. The American Oaks is race 8 on Hollywood park's Saturday card with a post time of 4:40 PM. Let's take a look at the nine entries and what brought them to this important Grade 1 event.
2012 American Oaks Stakes Race Favorites
My Gi Gi - won her first graded stakes race last time out - the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap here over fellow American Oaks entries Lady of Shamrock and Stormy Lucy to follow an OK second in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes also here on May 5th. She also had a fourth in the Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita in October followed by a 12th in the Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Despite some pedestrian early-career results, My Gi Gi is in top form as demonstrated by her impressive victory last time out.
Lady of Shamrock - is a three time stakes winner who finished a close second last time out in the Honeymoon Handicap. That result followed her first graded stakes score - the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita on April 7th. Lady of Shamrock has won four of her last six starts including the Blue Northern Stakes on December 30 th and the China Doll Stakes. She may not have won the Honeymoon but Lady of Shamrock is still arguably the most accomplished horse in the American Oaks.
Stormy Lucy - had won three straight races before the Honeymoon - two Allowance races and the Golden Poppy Stakes at Golden Gate on May 6th. She finished a respectable third in the Honeymoon by just ½ length and despite that result has to be on the American Oaks radar.
American Oaks Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries
Colonial Flag - Mike Matz trained filly most recently finished a very good second by one length in the Grade 3 Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 16 th to follow a pair of wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming at Belmont and a Maiden Special Weight at Keeneland. Colonial Flag has just four career starts with two wins and a second place finish.
Left a Message - finished fourth most recently in the Grade 3 Regret Stakes to follow a pair of wins - an Allowance at Keeneland and a Maiden Special Weight at Gulfstream. Like Colonial Flag, Left a Message has two wins and a second place finish in four career starts.
American Oaks betting at OffTrackBetting.com
Miss Cato - will be making her North American debut after four wins, two seconds and a third place finish in her seven starts in Europe.
Nayarra - has also raced exclusively in Europe but without the impressive results. She has just one win, five seconds and two third place finishes in 13 career starts and is coming off a 12th place finish last time out on June 1st.
Regalo Mia - has been good in 2012 - seconds in the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes last time out at Belmont and at the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream and thirds at the Grade 3 Appalachian at Keeneland in April and the Florida Oaks in February. Regalo Mia has placed in five of six career starts and could be a factor on Saturday.
Best Present Ever - will be making her graded stakes debut but comes into the Oaks on a three race win streak including the Campanile Stakes last time out at Golden Gate. Best Present Ever has three wins, a second and a third place finish in six career starts.
