Inaugural American Oaks Field Taking Shape

Cyclorama, a leading turf filly in the East, was scheduled to be flown from New York on June 28 to join the cast for the inaugural $500,000 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 14-miles on the turf. The race will be run at Hollywood Park on July 6.

Trained by H. James Bond, Cyclorama will be ridden for the first time by Victor Espinosa. The Theatrical filly, a $500,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, has two wins and a second from just four career starts -- all on turf -- for owner William Clifton Jr. She'll go in the American Oaks of a runner-up effort to Riskaverse in the Sands Point Stakes at Belmont Park.

Riskaverse, Kentucky-based Maliziosa, and Distant Valley are scheduled to arrive July 1 via a Tex Sutton charter flight. Riskaverse, trained by Pat Kelly for Fox Ridge Farm, has won two of three turf starts. Maliziosa, trained by Bill Mott, has won her last three starts on grass, most recently the Summertime Breeders' Cup Stakes at Hawthorne Park on May 25. Distant Valley, a group II winner in England last year, comes off a three-length score in the Regret Stakes over the Churchill Park turf course for trainer Nial O'Callaghan.

Cellars Shiraz, a multiple South Florida stakes winner on turf, arrived on June 25 and quickly worked a mile on the turf two days later.

European invaders include Saranac Lake, who is to be shipped in from Ireland July 3, Clerical Error and Ombre Legere. Clerical Error, runner up in the Prix Sandringham June 2, will join trainer Craig Dollase's barn after the race. Ombre Legere, winner of the April 10 Prix Penelope, and seventh-place finisher in the French Oaks (Fr-I), will join trainer Ron McAnally. Distant Valley and Ombre Legere are both owned by Gary Tanaka.

Local hopes defending their turf in the American Oaks iclude Megahertz and Arabic Song, the one-two finishers in the Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap on June 8.

All starters will carry 121 pounds.