Name: Mike Shustek
visited *loading* times
Arindel Farm's WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) had already established herself as one of the leaders of the three-year-old filly division on the main track, but judging by the way the Todd Pletcher pupil slammed her opponents in the $750,000 American Oaks Invitational S. (G1) at Hollywood Park on Sunday, it seems that her true home could be on the turf. With Garrett Gomez aboard, Wait a While rushed past her straining foes leaving the far turn and stormed to an emphatic 4 1/2-length victory in a sparkling 1:59 1/5 for the 1 1/4 miles on the firm turf. She thus became the first American-bred filly who was also American-based to win in the five-year history of the American Oaks.
Gomez patiently bided his time in fourth as Attima (GB) (Zafonic) dictated affairs up front through an even tempo of :23 4/5, :47 4/5 and 1:12. Rounding the far turn, as Attima came up empty, she drifted out and bumped Foxysox (GB) (Foxhound), and neither was heard from thereafter. At the same time as that incident occurred, Wait a While was ranging up three-wide, and once she deployed her scintillating acceleration, getting the mile in 1:36, the only question was what the winning margin would be. Toiling in the winner's wake were Japanese shipper Asahi Rising (Jpn) (Royal Touch), the 8-5 favorite who unexpectedly had been racing well off the pace, and Canadian invader Arravale (Arch), involved in their own private war for runner-up honors. Asahi Rising outdueled her rival by a half-length, but it was another six lengths back to the fourth-place finisher, Galileo's Star (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]).
Despite the utter comprehensiveness of her victory on the course, Wait a While's connections had to do just that before being able to celebrate. Because of the brief scrimmaging on the turn, Foxysox's rider Alex Bisono claimed foul against the winner, alleging that Wait a While was the culprit. The stewards saw the matter differently, deciding that Attima was at fault for the barging, and disallowed the objection.
Dispatched as the third choice in the wagering at nearly 3-1, Wait a While provided mutuels of $7.80, $3.60 and $3. Asahi Rising returned $3.40 and $2.60, and Arravale paid $4.40 at 11-1. The $1 exotics totaled $13.50 (exacta), $75.70 (trifecta) and with the 44-1 longshot Galileo's Star in fourth, $933.20 (7-1-3-4 superfecta).
Sol Mi Fa (Ire) (Distant Music) was fifth, followed by Foxysox, Proxenia (GB) (Pursuit of Love) and Attima.
Wait a While's scorecard now stands at 10-5-1-3, and her earnings have essentially doubled to $888,087. Her only previous start on the grass was last September at Belmont Park, when she broke her maiden by five lengths. The gray captured the off-the-turf Miss Grillo S. in her next outing, and from that point on, she was campaigned on the main track. After routing the field by 14 lengths in the sloppy Davona Dale S. (G2), Wait a While placed in the Bonnie Miss S. (G2) and Ashland S. (G1). In the Kentucky Oaks (G1), she was promoted to third via disqualification. Pletcher tried to switch her to the lawn for the Sands Point S. (G3) at Belmont Park, but that event was rained off the turf, and she once again showed her affinity for an off track with a facile 4 1/2-length score.
Bred by W. S. Farish and W. Temple Webber Jr. in Kentucky, the winner was sold for $260,000 at the 2005 OBS February sale as a two-year-old in training. She is the first registered foal from the winning A.P. Indy mare Flirtatious, who has also produced a 2006 colt by Pleasantly Perfect. Wait a While's granddam is Grand Charmer (Lord Avie), a Grade 3 winner on the grass. The family traces to the Northern Dancer mare Sleek Dancer, whose notable descendants include 1987 Irish Derby (Ire-G1) hero Sir Harry Lewis, 1994 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (Jpn-G1) winner Chokai Carol, multiple stakes victor and sire Northern Prospect, and 2000 Ramona H. (G1) queen Caffe Latte (Ire).
The Kentucky Oaks dates back to the earliest days of Churchill Downs, which was known as the Louisville Jockey Club when it conducted its first race meet in 1875. Its first running was held Wednesday, May 19, 1875 as one of four stakes races developed by founder M. Lewis Clark for the track's inaugural meet. The others were the Kentucky Derby, the Clark Handicap and the Falls City Handicap. The Kentucky Oaks is renewed each year on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby, but it is much more than a sister race to the famed "Run for the Roses."
The roster of horses that have won the 1 1/8 mile (1811 metres) race in its first 130 years includes some of the greatest fillies in racing history. Three of those races — the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks and the Clark — were modeled after Classic races in England. The Kentucky Oaks was fashioned in the image of the English Oaks at Epsom Downs.
The distance of that first running of the Kentucky Oaks was 1 ½ miles (2414 metres) and A.B. Lewis & Company's Vinaigrette was the winner. She earned a winning purse of $1,175 and was timed over the 12 furlong (2414 metres) distance in 2:39 ¾.
The victory by Vinaigrette launched a strong tradition for the Kentucky Oaks, which — like the Kentucky Derby — has been renewed each year without interruption since its inaugural running.
Louisvillians once referred to the Oaks as "our Derby," implying that the Derby itself had become the domain of celebrities and out-of-town visitors. In recent years that has changed, as the Oaks has become nearly as popular as the Derby. Indeed, the spectator attendance on "Oaks Day" is usually second only to Derby Day, surpassing attendance at the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, as well as the Breeders' Cup.
The Kentucky Oaks is one of three races that are the de facto distaff counterparts to the Triple Crown races, along with the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course and the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park. They have not, however, been officially referred to as the "Filly Triple Crown"; that distinction goes to three races run at Belmont and Saratoga Race Course in New York, now officially called the Triple Tiara to avoid trademark conflicts. However, consideration has been given within the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the sport's governing body in the United States, to change the Triple Tiara series to the Kentucky Oaks, Black-Eyed Susan and Acorn.
Wait a While was an accomplished filly earlier this year in major stakes on dirt. It seems those performances were a warm-up to her true calling of racing on turf.
In her stakes debut on grass, Wait a While dominated seven rivals in Sunday's $750,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park, drawing off in the stretch to win by 4 1-2 lengths. The Grade 1 Oaks was Wait a While's second start on turf; she beat maidens on turf at Belmont Park last summer.
"We always felt she was better on grass," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "It was a matter of getting her back on it."
Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Wait a While ($7.80) ran the best race of her career in the American Oaks. She ran 1 1-4 miles on turf in 1:59.38.
Asahi Rising, a stakes winner from Japan who was sent off as the 8-5 favorite, finished second, a half-length in front of Canadian invader Arravale. Attima, who won the Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap here in June, led for the first seven furlongs, but faded to finish last in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies.
Jockey Alex Bisono, who rode sixth-place finisher Foxysox, lodged an objection against Wait a While for an alleged bumping incident on the final turn. The stewards rejected the claim after a four-minute review.
Wait a While had an ideal trip. She was fourth on the backstretch, tracking Attima through early fractions of 23.83 and 47.81 seconds. Wait a While moved into contention quickly on the final turn, with a three-wide rally.
"It worked out beautifully," Pletcher said. "She rated kindly. She's been training so sharp I wanted to make sure that she could relax and settle off the pace. She really kicked home big."
Owned by Alan Cohen, Wait a While has won 5 of 10 starts and $888,087. She was third in the Kentucky Oaks on dirt earlier this year.
*Siren Lure gave veteran trainer Art Sherman his first Grade 1 win in Sunday's $300,000 Triple Bend Handicap for sprinters.
Ridden by Alex Solix, Siren Lure ran seven furlongs in 1:21.29, finishing 1 1-2 lengths in front of Battle Won, who was near the front throughout. Unfurl the Flag, the defending champion, finished third after setting the pace. Trickey Trevor, the 3-1 favorite, finished ninth in a field of 10.
Siren Lure ($8.60) was seventh on the backstretch and began closing ground on the turn. "I knew I was in a good position and I thought he'd kick it in," Sherman said. "I told Alex, 'Give him some place to go.'"
Siren Lure rallied three-wide through the stretch and took the lead in the final furlong. Owned by a partnership, Siren Lure, 5, has won a remarkable 11 of 19 starts and $589,909. He was claimed for $50,000 in May 2005 at Bay Meadows and has won six stakes for his current connections.
Sherman, 67, trains primarily on the Northern California circuit.
*Charming N Lovable won her third consecutive stakes, and first stakes in the $100,000 Flawlessly Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Ridden by Solis, Charming N Lovable ($4.80) ran a mile on turf in 1:34.68, finishing 1 1-2 lengths in front of Soothsay in a field of nine.
Template by Splinder.com | header image credit: Markus Gann © www.begann.de