Corposo needs solid Santa Anita Oaks to move on to Kentucky Oaks

Corposo earned a start in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on Saturday with a narrow win in a maiden race at a mile on March 8 in her two-turn debut.

The $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles will tell owner and breeder Nick Cosato and trainer Peter Eurton where Corposo ranks in California’s 3-year-old filly division, and whether she is good enough to be considered for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 3.

“We know she can get the two turns,” Eurton said on Wednesday. “Now, we’re taking it to another level. We’ll find out a lot.”

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Corposo is owned by the Slam Dunk Racing partnership, which Cosato directs.

By Vino Rossi, Corposo is part of an expected small field in the Santa Anita Oaks, a group led by the stakes winners Kinza and Kopion. Kinza, unbeaten in three starts for trainer Bob Baffert, including two Grade 3 races at seven furlongs and a mile earlier this year, will be a heavy favorite.

Corposo was fourth in her debut in a sprint for maidens on Feb. 18, and won a maiden race by a nose over Bonaqua, who returned to finish third at 3-5 in a maiden race at a mile at Oaklawn Park last Saturday.

“The filly that we beat didn’t run as well as we hoped at Oaklawn Park,” Eurton said.

To be considered for the Kentucky Oaks, Corposo needs to show significant improvement in the Santa Anita Oaks. A second-place finish, in some circumstances, would be good enough to merit a trip to Kentucky.

“If she’s second and not beaten from here to across the street, I think they would consider it,” Eurton said. “With Nick, he’s mentioned what a joy that would be.”

The Santa Anita Oaks is one of five stakes on a 12-race program at Santa Anita on Saturday. First post time is noon, Pacific.

The program is led by the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.

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