Aniva Bay and Divine Mercy fresh for rematch in California Oaks

Trainer Steve Sherman doesn’t view Saturday’s $50,000-added California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields as a rematch with Aniva Bay, but rather as an opportunity for his filly Divine Mercy.

Favored Aniva Bay defeated Divine Mercy by three-quarters of a length as both made their route debuts in a one-mile allowance race here on Dec. 10. Aniva Bay led all the way while holding off the stalking Divine Mercy, who won a photo for second. Each makes her first start since then in the California Oaks, which drew 10 3-year-old fillies.

Divine Mercy had just graduated in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint and was making her second start in two weeks on Dec. 10.

“We ran back pretty quick,” said Sherman. “Conditions weren’t as good as they could have been. We lost to a decent filly who was probably better.

“There was nothing on the horizon with the Christmas break coming up. There was an allowance race scheduled after Christmas, but we decided to go ahead.”

Aniva Bay, trained by Blaine Wright, also was coming back on relatively short rest. She had finished fourth in the six-furlong Golden Gate Debutante on Nov. 24, two days before Divine Mercy’s maiden win.

“For us, we wanted to stretch her out,” said Wright. “We didn’t expect her on the lead, but you can put her anywhere.

Running in the Dec. 10 race has worked out for both fillies. The scheduled allowance after Christmas did not fill, and both horses have trained nicely up to Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile race.

Aniva Bay missed one workout with mucus in January, according to Wright, but never was taken out of training. She has a solid five-furlong work and a pair of six-furlong works since recovering, including a strong gate drill last Saturday.

Divine Mercy hasn’t missed a work, and Sherman said several of the five-furlong works with which she is credited were actually six-furlong drills that extended beyond the wire.

KEY CONTENDERS

Aniva Bay, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 63-67-71

◗ Didn’t get away well in the Golden Gate Debutante, but finished nicely.

Divine Mercy, by Bernardini
Last 3 Beyers 62-64-63

◗ She has improved since her arrival in Northern California after making her first two starts at Los Alamitos.

◗ She is a daughter of a Grade 2 stakes-winning dam.

Mapit, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 69-62-57

◗ Has improved her Beyer in each start.

◗ Won a maiden race in her route debut at Santa Anita last out, and makes her first start on a synthetic surface.