California Cup Oaks stepping-stone to bigger game for One Fast Broad

ARCADIA, Calif. – One Fast Broad, who will be favored in Monday’s $200,000 California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita, is the sort of filly who is adept on turf and dirt.

She won a stakes for California-breds on dirt in November and in December before finishing second in the Blue Norther Stakes against open company at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 31.

If One Fast Broad performs as expected against statebreds in the California Cup Oaks, she will race in open company again, perhaps in the $75,000 China Doll Stakes at a mile on turf on March 10 and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on dirt on April 7.

It is an ambitious schedule, but one that owner and trainer Mick Ruis thinks suit the filly, who he says has thrived in the early weeks of 2018.

“I don’t think she could be any better,” Ruis said on Friday. “Her coat is good and her last two workouts have been fantastic. She was full of energy and I liked the way she galloped out.”

One Fast Broad is part of a field of eight in the Cal Cup Oaks, which is run at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies. The only other stakes winner in the field is Ismelucky, who won the Barretts Debutante at Los Alamitos in September, but is on a three-race losing streak.

KEY CONTENDERS

One Fast Broad, by Decarchy

Last 3 Beyers: 74-67-65

◗ One Fast Broad closed from last in a field of 11 under jockey Gary Stevens to finish a half-length behind Ippodamia’s Girl in the Blue Norther Stakes.

“Gary said her got her going a little too late,” Ruis said.

◗ Flavien Prat will have the mount on One Fast Broad on Monday. Stevens is riding at Oaklawn Park.

◗ Prat is likely to have One Fast Broad toward the back of a field that should have ample pace from Mo See Cal, a maiden winner on turf on Jan. 20; X S Gold, who won a maiden race on turf for California-breds at Del Mar in November; and Ismelucky.

Pulpit Rider, by Lucky Pulpit

Last 3 Beyers: 76-54-46

◗ Pulpit Rider was beaten by One Fast Broad in two stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies last fall, finishing sixth in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 3, and fifth in the Soviet Problem Stakes at a mile at Los Alamitos on Dec. 2.

◗ Trained by Mike Puype, Pulpit Rider closed steadily to finish third in her turf debut in an optional claimer against open company on the hillside turf course on Jan. 19. Puype is hopeful the longer race on Monday will benefit Pulpit Rider, who breaks from the rail.

“There’s plenty of speed,” Puype said. “We’ll be able to save some ground.

“Her only race on turf was good. She’s been slow to develop. We think she’s getting better.”

◗ Pulpit Rider is out of Lady Railrider, a five-time stakes winner who earned $603,041.