Bob Baffert has won the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2), formerly known as the Chandelier, an unprecedented 12 times. The Hall of Fame trainer will saddle half the field of eight in this year's edition Oct. 5, headed by Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) heroine Tenma.
Charles and Susan Chu of Baoma, the owners of Tenma, had landed the Oak Leaf in 2019 with the Baffert-trained Bast. Like Tenma, Bast had entered the 1 1/16-mile contest off a victory in the Del Mar Debutante. Bast went on to finish third in that year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), which undoubtedly will be the next target for Tenma if she delivers another sparkling performance in Saturday's $200,000 affair
The Oak Leaf, held at Santa Anita Park, is a Breeder' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event and offers the race winner an all-expenses-paid guaranteed entry into the Nov. 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. In addition to the Breeders' Cup berth, the race also awards Kentucky Oaks (G1) points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five finishers as part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series.
An $850,000 2-year-old acquisition, Tenma has displayed grit in her two starts so far—closing gamely to win her August debut before catching the more experienced Vodka With a Twist at the wire in the Del Mar Debutante. A daughter of Nyquist and out of a Tapit mare, the more distance the better would appear ideal for the late-running Tenma.
Kazushi Kimura retains the mount.
Only Jack's Magic Girl (fourth) and Tenma's stablemate Nooni (fifth) from the Del Mar Debutante are reopposing the likely favorite on Saturday.
Zedan Racing Stables' Nooni set the racing world on fire with her explosive debut score June 13. The $1.8 million Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training topper then blazed to another front-running win in Del Mar's Sorrento Stakes (G3). Stretching out to seven furlongs in the Del Mar Debutante, the Win Win Win filly battled on the front end early before fading down the lane.
Martin Garcia replaces Juan Hernandez on Nooni, who will instead pilot recent debut scorer Non Compliant for Baffert. The daughter of Tiz the Law netted a 96 Equibase Speed Figure for the six-furlong maiden special weight win.
Showers, a five-length maiden winner Aug. 25 going a mile at Del Mar, is the last of the Baffert quartet. Antonio Fresu will ride the Ghostzapper filly, a $240,000 purchase for Sarah Kelly and William Strauss at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, October 5, 2024, Race 3Entries: Oak Leaf S. presented by Oak Tree (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Rio Del Sol (KY) Ricardo Gonzalez 122 Michael W. McCarthy 20/1 2 2Jack's Magic Girl (KY) Hector Isaac Berrios 122 O. J. Jauregui 15/1 3 3Tenma (KY) Kazushi Kimura 122 Bob Baffert 5/2 4 4Nooni (FL) Martin Garcia 122 Bob Baffert 3/1 5 5In the Air Tonight (CA) Tiago Josue Pereira 122 Steve R. Knapp 5/1 6 6Showers (KY) Antonio Fresu 122 Bob Baffert 12/1 7 7Om N Joy (CA) Edwin A. Maldonado 122 Aggie Ordonez 20/1 8 8Non Compliant (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 122 Bob Baffert 2/1
Sweet azteca goes for fifth straight in Chillingworth Stakes
While it is up for debate in the rest of the country who is the top female in the sprinting division, there is no question that Sweet Azteca reigns supreme over her rivals on the West Coast. The Pamela Ziebarth-owned filly has been sensational in her last four starts this year, highlighted by a grade 1 score in the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) and a scintillating five-length victory in the Great Lady M Stakes (G2).
Trained by Michael McCarthy, the daughter of Sharp Azteca will look to continue her winning ways against six other fillies and mares in the $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes (G3). The 6 1/2-furlong event is not a "Win and You're In" race, but will serve as a useful prep ahead of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) next month.
"I had given it some thought, to wait for the Breeders' Cup," McCarthy said. "But I felt it might be better to let her go ahead and run rather than watch her work in :58 and change, :59 and change week after week.
"I'm expecting the same kind of race we've seen from her in the last couple."
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Sweet Azteca will tote the high weight of 126 pounds in the Chillingworth.
One of the biggest threats in the field could come from the Baffert-trained Hope Road. The 3-year-old Quality Road filly has won her last three outings by a combined 15 3/4 lengths for Cicero Farms, including a last-out triumph in the one-mile Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) at Del Mar.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, October 5, 2024, Race 7Entries: Chillingworth S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Irish Wahine (CA) Kyle Frey 122 Librado Barocio 30/1 2 2Hope Road (KY) Kazushi Kimura 122 Bob Baffert 4/1 3 3Sweet Azteca (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 126 Michael W. McCarthy 3/5 4 4Anywho (KY) Tyler Baze 122 John W. Sadler 20/1 5 5One Magic Philly (KY) Antonio Fresu 118 Philip D'Amato 5/1 6 6Kirstenbosch (KY) Hector Isaac Berrios 126 John W. Sadler 10/1 7 7Chismosa (CA) Tiago Josue Pereira 126 Rafael DeLeon 8/1
