It's a busy weekend from coast to coast in the world of thoroughbred racing. Keep an eye on the blog today, as we'll be previewing four major stakes. We'll begin with the grade I Santa Anita Oaks, featuring three year old fillies going a mile and a sixteenth.
1. Stardom Bound (Tapit-My White Corvette, by Tarr Road): Defending Eclipse champion gets the rail, but it doesn't much matter as she'll drop back and come running with her usual late kick. She's 4-for-6 lifetime, earner of over a million, and is chasing her fifth straight grade I win. Another big score here could put her into the Santa Anita Derby next month. Regular rider Mike Smith is up.
2. Burg Berg (Johannesburg-Snowberg, by Seattle Sleet): Winner of back to back races tries stakes company for the first time. Tyler Baze has the mount.
3. Miss Silver Brook (Cozzene-Brookdale, by Turkoman): Alex Solis is up on this girl, who won her maiden first time out in January, but finished fourth as the favorite on the turf in the La Habra last out.
4. Hooh Why (Cloud Hopping-Magic Merger, by Corporate Report): Florida-bred filly spent most of last year in Canada, running second in a stakes to Patena, who highlights next weekend's Louisiana Derby. She's remarkably consistent, hitting the board in seven of eight lifetime for trainer Carla Gaines. Most recently led until deep stretch of the Sunshine Millions Oaks. Robby Albarado in the irons.
5. Stormy Slew (Hennessy-Hepatica, by Slewpy): John Velazquez has the mount on this maiden.
6. Nan (High Yield-Trip Around Heaven, by Halo): One of two here with only a maiden win to her credit; fourth in the Las Virgenes to Stardom Bound last out. Corey Nakatani rides.
7. Will O Way (Broken Vow-Willow Woodman, by Woodman): Has won only three of seven, but two were stakes; most recently scored a game nose victory in the California Oaks. Russell Baze is in the irons.
8. Beltene (Unusual Heat-Wallis of Windsor, by Wavering Monarch): Joel Rosario up on the winner of the Sunshine Millions Oaks, who is 3-for-3 lifetime.
9. Third Dawn (Sky Mesa-Chalmette, by Quiet American), Rafael Bejarano rides this girl, who broke her maiden at a mile and a sixteenth last out. Bred to run all day.
10. Acronym (Empire Maker-Averti, by Known Fact): Bobby Frankel sends out this filly for Juddmonte Farms. David Flores rides the filly, who finished fifth in her sprint maiden but then won at a mile last out, suggesting she may appreciate the extra distance.
Railbird's pick: I can't ignore the Juddmonte filly in Acronym or the consistency of Hooh Why. But Stardom Bound is just too good. She certainly didn't scare anyone off, but if she gets an honest pace to run at, there's no reason to think she isn't 'bound' for another impressive win.
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