Distance will be a test for most in American Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 1 American Oaks on Saturday at Santa Anita is either the start of the season, or the end. This much is certain – 1 1/4 miles on turf is a grueling trip for most of the 3-year-old fillies whose staying ability is unsure.

“That’s a big question, what about the distance?” said Tim Yakteen, Mucho Unusual’s trainer. “There’s only one horse in the field that’s really proven herself at the distance.”

“It’s kind of an unasked question, not many of them have gone a mile and a quarter,” said John Shirreffs, Giza Goddess’s trainer. “Everybody is pretty much in the same boat, except for that one horse.”

Both trainers were referring to Vibrance, third last out versus older fillies and mares in the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap at 1 3/8 miles. Vibrance should have no problem with the trip.

“She will run as far as they write races,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “She wants to run all day; she’s got a stamina-laden pedigree with Dynaformer on the bottom.”

A case could be made Vibrance is the most likely winner of the American Oaks, a $300,000 race that is her last chance to run in an age-restricted race and also her final local start. McCarthy said Vibrance has been sold to Shadai Farm in Japan.

Just three of the eight American Oaks entrants are graded winners – Mucho Unusual, Lady Prancealot, and Apache Princess. Giza Goddess is a listed winner and graded-placed, Vibrance is graded stakes-placed. K P Slickem, So Much Happy, and Pretty Point are allowance or maiden winners.

The American Oaks, previously run in summer at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita, lost significance after being moved to December three years ago. But the Oaks remains an appealing race on which to wager, and this year’s field includes many with a shot.

Lady Prancealot won a Grade 3 last out over a good course at Keeneland and is expected to vie for favoritism. Trained by Richard Baltas, the multiple Grade 3 winner will be ridden again by Joe Bravo.

Giza Goddess switches to Victor Espinoza, plans call for her to ration her speed.

“For her long-term career, it’s better that she gets behind somebody and paces herself,” Shirreffs said. “Victor’s very strong, and if you want to take a horse back, he’s the guy.”

Giza Goddess is making her third start back from a layoff and is theoretically positioned for the best race of her career while dropping in class after finishing eighth against older fillies and mares in the Grade 1 Matriarch.

Mucho Unusual also drops from the Matriarch, she finished ninth.

“It wasn’t her best race,” Yakteen acknowledged. “She got caught up in that [fast] pace, and she got a little rank.”

Mucho Unusual is reunited with Joel Rosario, who rode her to two stakes wins – a last-to-first in the Grade 2 San Clemente and a wire-to-wire versus California-bred fillies.

Apache Princess stretches out from three successive runner-up finishes in sprint stakes; her new rider is Javier Castellano. Trainer Keith Desormeaux won the American Oaks in 2016 with Decked Out.

The American Oaks is race 6 of 11 on the opening-day card.