John and Jeanne Rogitz left cooler climes in San Diego to come to Santa Anita Park, with temperatures hitting the 90s. They found the trip more than worth it, however, as Non Compliant, a filly they own in partnership, ran her record to a perfect 2-for-2 by capturing the Oct. 5 Oak Leaf Stakes (G2).
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert had four of the six Oak Leaf entrants, and two of them—Tenma and Nooni—were already graded stakes winners. Leading jockey Juan Hernandez was aboard Non Compliant, who was making her stakes debut, went off as the even-money favorite, and proved best.
Nooni likes setting the pace, which she did again in the 1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf. Tenma and Non Compliant tracked her through much of the race, with Nooni responsible for easy fractions of :23.42, :47.22, and 1:11.65.
The Baffert trio tightened things up on the second turn, and heading into the stretch it became a battle between Nooni on the rail and Non Compliant to her outside. They fought for several strides, and then Non Complaint began inching away, ultimately coming to the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front while stopping the timer in 1:45.08. Tenma finished third, 8 1/4 lengths behind Nooni.
Hernandez rode Non Compliant in her 1 1/2-length debut win at Del Mar Aug. 31, and he also has been riding Sorrento Stakes (G3) winner Nooni.
"We talked about it, and he felt that he wanted to ride (Non Compliant), but he leaves it up to me," said Baffert. "I usually make that call, so I said, 'Yeah, go ahead, you can ride her.' He's great to work with. He understands we're all in this together."
The Oak Leaf began with that name in 1969 as part of the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting at Santa Anita. In 2012, Santa Anita, which now runs the fall meeting, changed the name to the Chandelier Stakes. This year it reverted to its previous name, also listed as "presented by Oak Tree," the organization being celebrated throughout the day.
Under either name, the race provides a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). It 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. Fourth-place In the Air Tonight and fifth-place Showers, the latter trained by Baffert, earned Oaks points along with Non Compliant, Nooni, and Tenma.
Baffert was winning a record 13th Oak Leaf. Rogitz, a patent lawyer, purchased Non Compliant for $150,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in May and owns the filly with Georgia Antley Hunt and Jeff Giglio. Though his name was on the sales ticket, Rogitz defers to Baffert and his advisers in the purchases.
"Donato (Lanni) and Bob work as a team, and they have a fantastic eye," Rogitz said.
The same group came up with Santa Anita Oaks (G2) winner Nothing Like You. Rogitz is also excited about the partnership's Philippa, a 3-year-old daughter of Arrogate trained by Baffert who has one second in three starts so far.
Ashview Farm and Old Oak Farm bred Non Compliant in Kentucky from the graded stakes-placed Street Sense mare Sensitively. Ashview sold Non Compliant as a weanling for $15,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, and she sold again for $35,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Select Yearling Sale.
Non Compliant, Tiztastic, and Out On Bail are 2024 stakes winners sired by Tiz the Law , whose first foals are 2-year-olds of 2024. Winner of five stakes, including the 2020 Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1), Tiz the Law stood for a 2024 stud fee of $20,000 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.
Video: Oak Leaf S. presented by Oak Tree (G2)
One Magic Philly Upsets Chillingworth
John Gallegos' One Magic Philly outdueled 1-9 favorite Sweet Azteca and won the $98,000 Chillingworth Stakes (G3) by 2 3/4 lengths.
Sweet Azteca, who might have been favored in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) with a win in her final prep, faded through the lane and finished last in the field of four.
The winner, a 3-year-old Good Magic filly trained by Phil D'Amato, won her third consecutive race after finishing second in her debut June 15 at Santa Anita. In receipt of an 8-pound weight break, One Magic Philly hounded Sweet Azteca from the start through fractions of :21.76 and :44.10. Her final time for 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt was 1:16.14.
"We knew the horse to beat was on our inside (Sweet Azteca), and we had to take it to her if we broke well," D'Amato said. "I knew if we could stick with Sweet Azteca for the first part of the race, we would have a chance. And it just worked out."
