Cozi Rosie's scratch opens up American Oaks

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The $250,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park on Saturday lost a key runner on Friday with the withdrawal of the Grade 3 stakes winner, and likely favorite, Cozi Rosie.

The runner-up in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap here on May 31, Cozi Rosie did not train to the satisfaction of trainer John Sadler, according to Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, the racing manager for owner-breeders Jerry and Ann Moss. The filly is expected to undergo medical tests in coming days as a precaution.

"She was not herself this morning," Ingordo-Shirreffs said on Friday afternoon. "We'll probably do a nuclear scan on her to be safe. We'll be very cautious."

Nuclear scan tests are more detailed than conventional X-rays and can detect even minor fractures, if any exist.

Cozi Rosie has won 3 of 8 starts and $157,280. Her defection leaves a field of seven for the Grade 1 American Oaks, which is run over 1 1/4 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies.

The American Oaks is the eighth race on a 10-race program that includes the $150,000 Royal Heroine Stakes.

All seven of the remaining entrants are locally-based fillies, including two other stakes winners -- Antares World and City to City. The other starters are Andina, who was second in the Providencia and Senorita; and four fillies seeking their first success in stakes -- Conniption, Harmonious, Riviera Chic, and Weekend Magic.

City to City won the Providencia, and was third in the Honeymoon, beaten a length by Evening Jewel, after chasing a slow pace.

"They went ridiculously slow," said Dan Ward, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's assistant. "When you come from off of it, it doesn't help."

Harmonious and Riviera Chic were first and third in an allowance race over 1 1/8 miles here last month.

Harmonious is unbeaten in two starts on turf, including a one-mile maiden race in May, and will be making her stakes debut. "I think she'll handle the distance all right," said John Shirreffs, who trains Harmonious. "What has she had three races? This is an ambitious spot."

Riviera Chic was supplemented to the American Oaks for $5,000 last weekend. "How many opportunities do you get for a mile and a quarter, which she wants to do," said Jamie Lloyd, who trains Harmonious. "Maybe she'll surprise us."

Riviera Chic could assume the role of pacesetter. None of the entrants are the sort of fillies that must be on the lead. Riviera Chic set a slow pace in the June 12 allowance races.

Antares World, who was fourth in the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks on the main track here on June 6, has raced near the front in the past. She won the California Oaks on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate Fields in January and the Golden Poppy Stakes on turf over 1 1/16 miles there on April 17.

Similar to the other six fillies in the field, Antares World will be starting over 1 1-4 miles on turf for the first time on Saturday.