Las Vegas, NV -- The 73rd running of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks comes our way this Saturday, March 31st from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Three year old fillies will take to Santa Anita's main dirt track and race 1 1/16 miles.
A small field of five will chase the $300,000 purse in race 4 of Santa Anita's Saturday schedule. Post time is 2:03 PM PST. A good result in the Santa Anita Oaks could pave the way toward an entry into the prestigious $1 million Kentucky Oaks on May 4th. Needless to say, the quality five have a lot to race for.
Here is a breakdown of all five entries and the recent credentials that brought them into this race:
Reneesgotzip - has two wins and a second place finish in three career starts - the second coming last time out at the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes on March 3rd at Santa Anita when fellow Santa Anita Oaks competitor Eden's Moon pulled the upset. Her wins include an impressive 7 ¾ length win at the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita and before that front-running maiden score by 2 1/4 lengths in her only other start Dec. 18 at Hollywood.
Santa Anita Oaks betting at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Eden's Moon - also has two wins and a second place finish in three career starts. Bob Baffert trained Eden's Moon started her career with a second place finish a Maiden Special Weight race at Hollywood Park on December 18th and followed it up with a win in a similar race at Santa Anita on January 8th . Eden's Moon is coming off a very impressive win over Reneesgotzip at the Las Virgenes and could be considered the horse to beat in the Santa Anita Oaks.
Willa B. Awesome - Willa B. Awesome is the most experienced of the contenders having raced 11 times in her career with three wins, three seconds and three third place finishes. She is coming off a fourth place finish in the Las Virgenes but before that was awesome in winning the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes here on January 28th. Willa B. Awesome also has a second in the California Breeders Championship Stakes on December 26th. She may not quite be a top contender but Willa B. Awesome is not far behind.
Bella's Fantasy - makes her stakes debut this weekend after one win, one second and one third place finish against lesser competition. Last time out Bella's Fantasy was third in an Allowance on February 12th and before that won a Maiden Claiming on January 22nd - both races at Santa Anita.
Conjure the Spirit - has one win in five career starts - that win coming last time out in a Maiden Special Weight race at Santa Anita on March 11th.
Race 4 on Santa Anita's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:03 PM.
