Arthur Hancock III and James Stone's Chamrousse, second as the beaten favorite in last month's Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I), is back for more as the likely choice for Saturday's C.C.A. Oaks (gr. I) at Belmont Park. The race for 3-year-old fillies, the third leg of the New York Racing Association's "triple tiara," will be run at 1 1/2 miles.
Chamrousse, a dark bay or brown filly by Peaks and Valleys, out of the Stop the Music mare Loose Park, will face six runners in the C.C.A. Oaks. Nonsuch Bay, winner of the Mother Goose on June 29 is not among the entrants. Jerry Bailey, who was not aboard Chamrousse last time, returns in the saddle for trainer Niall O'Callaghan.
In the Mother Goose, Chamrousse was ridden by Edgar Prado. Prado now has the assignment on Jaramar Run in the Oaks.
Chamrousse has won three of seven career starts and has earned $289,465. Prior to the Mother Goose, Chamrousse won the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico as the 3-5 choice. Earlier in the year she was third three consecutive graded stakes: the Silverbulletday Stakes (gr. III) and Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) in New Orleans and the Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park.
Challengers to Chamrousse in the C.C.A. Oaks includes Shop Till You Drop, Tarnished Lady, and California invader Linda Eder.
Shop Till You Drop is a White Fox Farm homebred trained by John Fee. Second behind Chamrousse in the Black-Eyed Susan, the daughter of last year's leading sire Thunder Gulch was third in the Susan's Girl Breeders' Cup Stakes at Delaware Park in her last start. Earlier this year, she scored in the Wide Country Stakes at Laurel Park. Javier Castellano will ride.
Tarnished Lady enters the C.C.A. Oaks off a fourth-place finish over yielding turf in the Sands Point Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park on June 16 at 1 1/8 miles. Owned by Stuart and Anita Subotnick's Anstu Stables, Tarnished Lady won an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles over Belmont' s main track. Regular rider John Velazquez is named to ride for trainer Todd Pletcher.
California invader Linda Eder ships in off an optional claiming score at Hollywood Park on June 20 at the Oaks distance, but on the turf. A winner of just two of 10 starts, the daughter of Lear Fan apparentlyshould be able to handle the distance. Owned by Jerry Frankel, Linda Eder is trained by David Hofmans. Jose Santos picks up the mount.
Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), 1 1/2 miles, 3-year-old fillies
Post Horse Jockey Name
1 Jilbab Michael J. Luzzi
2 Sister Girl Blues Shaun Bridgmohan
3 Tarnished Lady John Velazquez
4 Linda Eder Jose Santos
5 Jaramar Rain Edgar Prado
6 Shop Till You Drop Javier Castellano
7 Chamrousse Jerry Bailey
