Invites Extended for American Oaks, CashCall

(from Hollywood Park notes)
Many of the leading female grass horses in the world received invitations from the Hollywood Park racing office Sunday for the inaugural $750,000 CashCall Mile (gr. IIIT) on July 1 and the $750,000 American Oaks (gr. IT) on July 2.

The CashCall Mile for fillies and mares is sponsored by owner J. Paul Reddam and named for his consumer lending company. The American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies will be run for the fifth time at 1 ¼ miles.

Dance in the Mood from Japan and Luas Line from Ireland are prominent among 12 invitees to the CashCall Mile. Dance in the Mood, a 5-year-old daughter of Sunday Silence, finished second in the 2004 American Oaks and has earned $4,485,512. Luas Line, a 4-year-old Irish-bred filly, finished fourth in the American Oaks last year and won the Garden City Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont in September.

Invitees from throughout the United States include Gorella, third-place finisher in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) last year for Patrick Biancone; Sweet Talker, who scored her fourth straight victory for trainer H. Graham Motion in the Winstar Distaff Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Lone Star Park; Wend, winner of the Jenny Wiley Stakes (gr. IIT) at Keeneland for trainer Bill Mott; and Flying Glitter, a grade III winner based in Kentucky with Ronny Werner.

Southern California-based invitees are Shining Energy and Dancing Edie, one-two finishers in the Gamely Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. IT); Cambiocorsa, boasting a seven-race winning streak on turf; grade I stakes winner Hollywood Story; and Toupie and Karen's Caper.

Fourteen fillies based in Japan, France, Ireland, Italy, and Canada as well as New York, Kentucky, and California were extended invitations to the American Oaks.

Asahi Rising, third-place finisher in the Japanese Oaks (Jpn-I), will attempt to succeed 2005 winner Cesario from Japan in the winner's circle. European invitees are Queen Cleopatra, third-place finisher in the French Oaks (Fr-I) for Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien; Fauvelia, a group I runner-up in France, and Dionisia, winner of the Criterium Femminile in Italy.

Arravale, winner of the 2005 Natalma Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine for trainer Mac Benson, will represent Canada.

United States invitees are Wait a While, winner of the Sands Point Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont for Todd Pletcher; Lady of Venice, winner of the Regret Stakes (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs for Patrick Biancone; Pine Island, unbeaten in two starts for Shug McGaughey, and Perilous Pursuit, winner of the Late Bloomer Stakes at Belmont for Sal Russo.

California invitees are headed by Attima, winner of the Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) for Julio Canani; Honeymoon runners-up Foxysox, Proxenia, and Galileo's Star; and Sol Mi Fa, winner of the Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Oaks for Jim Cassidy.