Paved back on West Coast turf in Oaks

DEL MAR, Calif. – An hour before he tries to upset Accelerate in the Pacific Classic with The Lieutenant on Saturday, trainer Michael McCarthy will try to win the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks with Paved, who should appreciate a return to Southern California after being so rudely treated in New York.

Paved fell out the back in the Belmont Oaks on July 7, and when the pace slowed down, she found out what it feels like to be on the Long Island Expressway headed east on a Friday afternoon. She finished well, but the leaders weren’t coming back and she ended up eighth. In the Del Mar Oaks, the intention is to be more forwardly placed and not to be at the mercy of the pace, McCarthy said Thursday morning.

“She held her own in the Belmont Oaks,” McCarthy said. “She ended up too far back. She came with a run through the lane. Everything was against her. I’d like to see her midpack this time.”

Trips likely will be paramount in the Del Mar Oaks. There is no standout in the 1 1/8-mile grass race for 3-year-old fillies, and trips certainly played a major role in the outcome of this meet’s Oaks prep, the San Clemente, in which Ollie’s Candy finished furiously to be second after taking the scenic route from the outside post in that field of 13.

This time, Ollie’s Candy drew far more favorably, landing post 4 in a field of 12.

Ms Bad Behavior, third when favored in the one-mile San Clemente, appears the likely pacesetter, and it will be interesting to see what tactics are employed with Animosity, who was forwardly placed in her first three starts but was off poorly in the San Clemente and finished with fire and fury the likes of which she had never shown before.

“That was the first time she really relaxed,” said Paddy Gallagher, who trains Animosity. “It doesn’t look like there’s much pace in this race. I just want the rider to have her in a place where she’s relaxed.”

The Del Mar Oaks goes as race 8 on the 11-race card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Paved, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 90-87-81

◗ She is reunited with Drayden Van Dyke, who is 2 for 3 in partnership with her, including a victory against males in the El Camino Real Derby in February.

Ollie’s Candy, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 90-90-77

◗ She was terribly unlucky not to have kept her unbeaten streak intact when losing by a neck in the San Clemente after going three wide on the first turn and at least four wide on the far turn. She lost far more ground than she was beaten.

Ms Bad Behavior, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 89-85-80

◗ She was a close third in the San Clemente after attending the pace set by the victorious War Heroine, who emerged from that race with an injury and is absent from the Oaks.

Animosity, by Animal Kingdom
Last 3 Beyers: 85-80-79

◗ It might have been a happy accident that she found herself well back early last time, because the change in style resulted in her best performance yet.

◗ The added distance of this race should suit her. She’s live at a price.

Fatale Bere, by Pedro the Great
Last 3 Beyers: 90-61-88

◗ As with Paved, she exits the Belmont Oaks, in which she was sixth.

◗ She defeated Paved and Ms Bad Behavior in the Providencia at Santa Anita in April.

Colonia, by Champs Elysees
Beyers: 86-N/A-N/A

◗ This French import closed stoutly to win her United States debut in the listed Hatoof at Arlington on July 7, the first time she encountered firm turf, which she’ll obviously get out here.