Only You Babe, Aqua Frio stand out in Oak Tree Juvenile

The filly Only You Babe and the colt Aqua Frio are the two most accomplished runners heading into Saturday’s $50,000 Oak Tree Juvenile at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet. The race at one mile and 70 yards has drawn a field of seven 2-year-olds and goes as race 9.

With three victories, Only You Babe is the only horse in the field with more than one win. She won a maiden race at Golden Gate Fields in her third start and followed by winning the Juan Gonzalez Memorial at Pleasanton and the Wine Country Debutante at Santa Rosa. Saturday’s race is her first around two turns.

Aqua Frio finished second at Santa Anita in his first two starts and then was second as the favorite in the Cavonnier Juvenile at Santa Rosa. He won a one-mile turf race by four lengths at Golden Gate in his last start Sept. 18.

Trainer Blaine Wright said Aqua Frio has always been precocious. His seconds came to Right Hand Man in a maiden race and the Cavonnier Juvenile and to Klimt, who has gone on to win the Grade 2 Best Pal and Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and runs Saturday in the Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita.

If Aqua Frio has an edge over Only You Babe, it’s that he has route experience that she lacks.

“Actually getting route experience, such as starting in front of the crowd, is important,” Wright said. “You need a 2-year-old with a strong mental makeup to do that.”

Wright said his lone concern with Aqua Frio is the short two-week span since his last race.

Only You Babe came from well off the pace in her three wins, which trainer Steve Specht hopes is an indication that she can get the extra distance on Saturday. She’s had five works in the six weeks since her win in the Wine Country Debutante, including a mile in 1:40 at Golden Gate on Sept. 18.

“You never know until you do it,” he said. “She’s not a real big filly – she’s kind of slight – and when we started taking her off the pace, she became more productive.”

Key Contenders

Aqua Frio, by Uncle Mo

Last 3 Beyers: 61-60-63

◗ He may have found his niche now that he’s routing.

◗ His sire was a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner.

Only You Babe, by Thorn Song

Last 3 Beyers: 56-57-52

◗ Specht said Saturday’s race is something of a prep for the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

◗ Her half-sister Can Can Babe has won going two turns.

Dangerfield, by Into Mischief

Last 3 Beyers: 55-61-52

◗ A maiden, he comes north for trainer Doug O’Neill.

◗ He was a $450,000 yearling purchase.