Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks comes out way this Saturday, April 4 from Santa Anita in Arcadia, California. A purse of $400,000 will be on the line as will 100 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks in a month's time for three year old fillies when they race 1 1/16 miles on Santa Anita's dirt track.
A competitive field of eight have been confirmed for the Santa Anita Oaks - race 7 on Santa Anita's busy Saturday card. Post time is 3:00 PM. Here is a brief look into the past performances of all eight entries for this Grade 1 stakes.
Stellar Wind - John Sadler pupil broke maiden in her second career start December 18 by an impressive 8 3/4 lengths after a second in her debut - both results at Laurel Park. Last time out she continued an impressive run with an upset 2 3/4 length win in the Santa Ysabel Stakes at 7-1 odds on this very track February 28. Victor Espinoza has been tabbed with keeping the incredible upward trend going from gate 6.
Singing Kitty - has won four of eight career starts for trainer Matthew Chew - three of his last four overall and has two wins in three starts on dirt. She makes his graded stakes debut Saturday on the heels of a two race win streak - the minor China Doll Stakes at 19-1 odds March 7 and the minor California Cup Oaks at 7-1 odds in January - both results on this track. Singing Kitty enters red-hot but takes a major leap up in competition Saturday. Aaron Gryder rides from gate 4.
Light the City - will hit the track for the seventh time for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer off a second behind Stellar Wind at 2-1 odds in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes here February 28 and another second - by a half length in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes on this track January 31. She also had a disappointing fifth in her graded stakes debut - as favorite in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes here January 3, an OK third behind Maybellene and Achiever's Legacy in the listed Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar in November and a nice win in her second career start - the minor Anoakia Stakes here in October. Light the City looks to break through in graded stakes company for the first time and for her first win in five starts with Kent Desormeaux guiding her from the rail.
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Luminance - Bob Baffert trained filly has two career starts and two wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming last time out on this track February 28 and a maiden score at first asking way back in July. Luminance steps into stakes company for the first time Saturday looking to remain perfect with Martin Garcia aboard from post 5.
Glory - improving Jerry Hollendorfer trained filly raced in graded stakes company for the first time February 28 and finished a respectable third behind Stellar Wind and Light the City in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes here after three career starts produced a win and two second place finishes. Two starts back was a decent second after leading most of the way in the minor California Oaks at Golden Gate February 7. That followed a two length maiden score in her second career start - on this track January 10. Rafael Bejarano has been chosen to keep the upward trend going - in Glory's first start on dirt from the post 2.
Wild At Heart - Richard Mandella trained filly has three career starts and has placed in all three - a win and a two second place finishes. She makes her stakes debut Saturday off a second behind Luminance in an Allowance Optional Claiming February 28, a maiden score February 8 and a second in her debut - all on this track. Wild at Heart hopes to carry the momentum to this weekend with Flavien Prat in the irons from post 7.
Curlin's Fox - Carla Gaines trained filly races for just the third time Saturday. Her first career start was a good one - an 8 3/4 length maiden score on this track February 1 and last time out was a second behind Singing Kitty in the minor China Doll Stakes also on this track - March 7. She steps into graded stakes company for the first time with the legend Mike Smith in the saddle from post 3.
She's a Big Winner - makes her graded stakes debut for trainer Peter Eurton off a third behind Singing Kitty and Curlin's Fox in the minor China Doll Stakes here March 7, a win in the minor Sweet Life Stakes here February 14 and a maiden score in her third career start. She's a winner has been impressive in 2015 and hopes to keep the upward trend going from the outside post with Brice Blanc guiding her.
