No shortage of questions in Oaks cast

SAN MATEO, Calif. - There is plenty of talent in Saturday's $100,000 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Oaks: Three of the five 3-year-old fillies in the 1 1/16-mile race have won a stakes. But each of the five faces a question.

Pinata won last summer's Landaluce at Hollywood Park after winning her debut at Pimlico. She was off nearly three months before a dismal try in the Grade 1 Oak Leaf Stakes and returns to action 6 1/2 months later.

Although her trainer, Peter Miller, has done well with layoff horses, there is an obvious question of condition as well as whether she really wants two turns.

Eastlake Avenue, one of three strong Jerry Hollendorfer-trained entrants, has won three straight races since arriving in Hollendorfer's barn, including the California Oaks in her last start. Not bad for a filly that won a maiden race for $7,500 at Emerald Downs last summer.

"She's come along very well," Hollendorfer said.

The question about her concerns missing a month of works. She turned in a solid 1:12.80 six-furlong drill on March 3 and did not surface again until April 1, when she worked five furlongs in 1:01. Hollendorfer said she had a minor problem during March and he was still able to gallop her.

Round Trip Flight, another Hollendorfer entrant, has won 2 of her 3 starts since stretching out to one mile. Her lone loss came when she met a tough group at Santa Anita.

"She won on turf last time, and we'll switch her back to dirt," Hollendorfer said.

Round Trip Flight's lack of early speed could work against her, though.

Jungle Girl won her first start around two turns last time out, a $75,000 maiden claimer, which prompts the question of whether she can handle multiple winners.

Glorification, the final Hollendorfer entrant, has good speed and a perfect outside draw. She rated nicely on the lead in the California Oaks at 1-2 but couldn't hold off her stablemate Eastlake Avenue.

Saturday's distance, the same as the California Oaks, is the question about her.

Hollendorfer believes she can handle the distance.

"Hopefully, she'll run the same kind of race as last time," he said.

She stretched out to 1 1/16 miles last time after having won the six-furlong Tiburon, and Hollendorfer expects the experience will benefit her this time.

"She's already stretched out, so I've only had to keep her fresh," Hollendorfer said.