American Oaks Betting – 9th Annual American Oaks Preview
The 9th running of the Grade 1 $250,000 American Oaks goes at Hollywood Park Saturday and those who bet horses know it should be another race of high quality. The fixture is carded for sophomore fillies going a mile and a quarter on grass.
The first running of the Oaks was won by the little engine that could, Megahertz, who was put up by the stewards after the disqualification of Dublino.
Last season Harmonious came from 4th and about 10 lengths off the lead to win going away with a 91 Beyer for trainer John Shirreffs and this year that trainer will saddle both Star Billing and Nereid in the American Oaks.
Star Billing, winner of the Senorita and runner-up in the Honeymoon, will be ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario. Regular rider Joe Talamo will be back aboard Nereid in her stakes bow in quest of a third straight win.
Kentucky invader Bizzy Caroline worked on the Hollywood Park turf for the first time last Sunday. Online horse betting players will remember she is coming off a victory in the Grade III Regret Stakes on the Churchill Downs turf June 18 – her third consecutive grass victory.
The daughter of Afleet Alex took awhile to figure it out but she has been a hurricane since graduating as she reeled off a 7-length score before her last victory.
Cambina, trained by Jeff Bonde said that Martin Garcia, who won the race last year on Harmonious, would be aboard Cambina for the first time.
She has won 3 of 6 this year and proved her class by taking a Grade 2 in April. The Irish-bred filly finished third in both the Senorita Stakes and Honeymoon Handicap after three straight stakes wins on the Santa Anita turf. She will have to turn the tables on archrival Star Billing.
Entrustment has talent but needs plenty of help up front but she tried hard in the Honeymoon when fourth beaten a length and value rider Quinonez got a chance to figure out what’s under the hood.
Love Theway You are would be making her grass debut and this is a very tough assignment. Her trainer, Kwon Cho, puts his horses in tough spots on a routing basis and he has popped at a price in some classy races over the years.
This is how it may unfold: Look for Star Billing to be pushed along early, try to slow down the splits, and then lull her rivals to sleep.
She may never get an easier spot to attempt to steal a race, as there is no speed in this fray. She brings :45 and change zip to the arena, gets the positive rider move to Rosario, trained fast for this, and seems very comfortable with the local grass course.
Sports betting players should know her stablemate, Nereid, may fall into a very nice two-hole trip but not sure she has the experience needed to pull off the upset.
Key Star Billing on top only with two legit closers in Cambina and Bizzy Caroline and hope both get clear trip in order to make the late run in time.
Good luck.
