The $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) has been an important steppingstone to stardom just this century with winners such as Beholder (2013) and Songbird (2016) going on to Hall of Fame careers. This year's edition at Santa Anita Park drew a field of six, headlined by dominant Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) winner Tenma.
The Santa Anita Oaks is part of the final round of qualifying races for the 151st Kentucky Oaks (G1), with key preps being held this weekend in Kentucky, New York, and Southern California as 3-year-old fillies have one final shot to qualify for the 1 1/8-mile race May 2 at Churchill Downs.
1. Look Forward (10-1 morning-line odds): Her chances were severely compromised by a slow start in an unplaced finish the Feb. 23 Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. Before that, she had posted two wins, including a stakes victory, and a runner-up finish in the Starlet Stakes (G2) in three prior races. Interesting bounce-back candidate if she can relax behind what could be a swift pace.
JOCKEY: Mario Gutierrez; TRAINER: Michael McCarthy
(Editor's Note: She is cross entered in the Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and is expected to race there.)
2. Silent Law (8-1): Stretches out around two turns for the first time after winning a stakes and placing in two others while competing in sprints. A logical pacesetter but not sure if she has the stamina to be a factor in deep stretch.
JOCKEY: Martin Garcia; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
3. Vodka With a Twist (4-1): Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner-up finished 10 3/4 lengths behind Tenma in the Starlet Stakes in December and has not raced since. Maybe this multiple grade 1-placed stakes winner simply needed a freshening. She has 10 workouts since Jan. 29 and hasn't missed a beat preparing for her return, but not sure she's fast enough.
JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu; TRAINER: Phil D'Amato
4. Tenma (even money): A winner of four of five lifetime starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who won the last two editions of this race. Tenma won the Las Virgenes Stakes by 6 3/4 lengths Feb. 2 on this track and appears to be a formidable favorite. Capable of winning from on or off the pace.
JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
5. No Bad Beats (7-2): Enters her first try in a stakes race off back-to-back wins by open lengths in sprint races. Neither of her wins produced the type of speed figure she would need to win this. Could be a pace factor and possibly hold on for a top-three finish.
JOCKEY: Hector Berrios; TRAINER: Doug O'Neill
6. Madame Secretary (6-1): Was a runaway five-length winner at a mile on this track to post her first victory her third try for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, who has won this race four times. An improving filly who faces a tough task in her stakes debut with several others very likely to challenge her for the early lead.
JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Richard Mandella
THE PICK: Tenma
LIVE LONGSHOT: Look Forward
SUPERFECTA: 4-1-6-3
