A companion event to the Tropical Park Derby, which will be run later in the day, the Oaks is a 1 1/16-mile test on the turf. It is open to 3-year-old fillies. There are four also-eligible entries.
A daughter of Pulpit, Bsharpsonata began her career this year racing on dirt, where she was 2-for-4, including a seven-length triumph in the Sept. 22 Irish Sonnet Stakes at Delaware Park. Trainer Tim Salzman switched the bay filly to grass in her next start, a fourth place finish in the Epitome Breeders Cup at Monmouth Park.
But in her last out, Bsharpsonata, who is baded out of Maryland, scored her first turf victory, taking the 1 1/16-mile Selima Stakes Nov. 24 at Laurel Park by 1 ¼ lengths. It came while stalking the pace, which seems to be her favorite running style.
Regular rider Eric Camacho will get the mount on Bsharpsonata, who is out of Affirmed mare Apasionata. She will break from post nine.
Robbie’s Gal and Absolutely Cindy are a couple of other contenders to watch for, both of them with recent stakes victories on the grass.
Like Bsharpsonata, Robbie’s Gal began her career racing on the main track. With only one win in five starts, trainer Steve DiMauro tried her on grass and it has made a big difference. The daughter of Straight Man was second by a neck in her first turf try, which came Nov. 10 in the John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes at Calder.
Less than three weeks later Robbie’s Gal earned her first stakes triumph in the 1 1/16-mile GTOBA Debutante Stakes, also at Calder. In that one, she was ninth after a half mile but made a strong move around the final turn and scored by 1 ¾ lengths.
Robbie’s Gal has posted a pair of bullet works on the Calder main track over the past month. John Velazquez, breaking from post 11, will ride for Robbies & Emmas Racing Stable.
Absolutely Cindy will race for Keith Kinmon, who is the owner, breeder and trainer. The daughter of Archhas won two of her last three efforts, including the Nov. 24 Caressing Handicap at Churchill Downs, where she came from well off the pace to nail the leaders in the final yards.
Absolutely Cindy’s last start was a third-place finish in the Dec. 22 Gowell Stakes at Turfway, a six-furlong sprint over Polytrack.
One more to consider is Bart Evans’ Kentucky homebred Wasted Tears, a Retama Park shipper who has made only two starts in her career, both impressive. The last one was a neck defeat in the Oct. 27 La Senorita Stakes, where she had late traffic problems. Elvis Trujillo will ride.
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Placia (KY), 116, Edgar S. Prado
2. Encanto Park (FL), 116, Jorge F. Chavez
3. Wasted Tears (KY), 114, Elvis Trujillo
4. Creative Design (FL), 116, Jose Lezcano
5. Absolutely Cindy (KY), 118, Joe Bravo
6. Cato Major (KY), 116, Cornelio H. Velasquez
7. Calico Bay (FL), 118, Manoel R. Cruz
8. Alwajeeha (KY), 116, Eddie Castro
9. Bsharpsonata (FL), 118, Eric Camacho
10. Wise Cookie (FL), 118, Eibar Coa
11. Robbie's Gal (FL), 118, John R. Velazquez
12. Mine Or Who's (NY), 116, Kent J. Desormeaux
AE Nicole's Song (FL), 114, Raymundo D. Fuentes
AE Holy Helen (KY), 114, Eddie Castro
AE Answer to No One (KY), 114, Elvis Trujillo
AE Invincible Ink (FL), 114, Rosemary B. Homeister, Jr.
