Paved, Californiagoldrush reboot in American Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. – Saturday is homecoming for graded winners Paved and Californiagoldrush, turf fillies returning to California following road trips that were disrupted by wet conditions.

Paved completely misfired last month on a boggy course at Churchill Downs; Californiagoldrush pulled a muscle three months ago in winning a graded stakes race on a yielding course at Belmont Park.

Fortunately for the top contenders in the Grade 1 American Oaks on Saturday, the Santa Anita turf should be dry and firm. Conditions are favorable for Paved and Californiagoldrush.

Yet neither is a cinch in the 1 1/4-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies due to a trio of carpetbaggers who arrive with fitting credentials. Princess Warrior and Colonia won graded stakes in Kentucky last out; the improving Competitionofideas returns to her preferred footing for the country’s deepest turf stable.

Along with allowance-caliber locals Kodiak West, Retro, and K P Pergoliscious, and opening-day stakes winner Amandine (an uncertain starter), nine are entered in the $300,000 American Oaks, the final Grade 1 of the year and the eighth race on a 10-race Santa Anita card.

Neil Drysdale trains the lightly raced Californiagoldrush, whose four starts have produced three wins and a wide-trip third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. She has not raced since winning the Grade 2 Sands Point on Sept. 15 over a yielding course at Belmont.

“On the soft, she pulled a muscle in her hind end,” Drysdale said.

The setback temporarily ended her campaign. She recovered, and Drysdale entered her in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Dec. 1 at Del Mar to prep for the American Oaks. She drew poorly and was scratched.

No big deal. Californiagoldrush has not missed a beat while training for her first start in 3 1/2 months. Asked if the filly is ready for a 1 1/4-mile race first start back, Drysdale answered decisively: “Yes.”

Drysdale will also take a flyer with longshot Kodiak West. Imported from Europe last summer, she won a first-level allowance last out in her second U.S. start. On class, she is up against it. Drysdale hopes the race’s distance is the equalizer.

“Everyone who’s been on her says she will run all day,” he said. “That’s why we’re doing it.”

Paved will vie for favoritism based on her runner-up finish against older two starts back in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at 1 1/4 miles on the Santa Anita turf. To like Paved, one only needs to disregard her 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Her built-in alibi was valid.

“The inside was terrible,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “She had a lot of trouble at the start, and it was hard to get untracked down the front side. The race was over turning up the backside, she was so far out of it.”

Paved was a 37-1 outsider in the Breeders’ Cup. But her runner-up finish two starts back behind the mare Vasilika stamps her as a contender in the American Oaks. McCarthy is confident she will run her race.

“I was very pleased with the way she worked the other day,” he said. “She had a little pep in her step. I can’t see much of an excuse right now unless she is suffering from a Breeders’ Cup hangover.”

An uncertain pace scenario complicates matters; all nine entrants are closers. The race will be run without Del Mar Oaks winner Fatale Bere due to an unspecified setback.

KEY CONTENDERS

Californiagoldrush, by Cape Blanco
Last 3 Beyers: 91-90-75

◗ Flavien Prat rides the filly for owner-breeder Alice Bamford.

◗ The filly was produced by Qaraaba, who in 2012 won the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel. The co-feature Saturday is the Frankel, race 4.

Paved, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 78-98-86

◗ Her best races have been on Santa Anita turf, including a win in the Grade 2 Honeymoon in June under Drayden Van Dyke. He regains the mount Saturday.

Competitionofideas, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 64-86-90

◗ Trained by Chad Brown, she won a maiden race and a turf allowance in the fall at Belmont, then misfired last time in an off-the-turf stakes race. Joel Rosario rides.

Princess Warrior, by Midshipman
Last 3 Beyers: 91-87-83

◗ She won the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere last out on yielding turf at Churchill Downs.

◗ Midwest trainer Ken McPeek won the 2017 American Oaks with Daddys Lil Darling. Princess Warrior will be ridden by Brian Hernandez.

Colonia, by Champs Elysees
Last 3 Beyers: 90-88-86

◗ Third behind Californiagoldrush in the Sands Point, she subsequently won the Grade 3 Valley View at Keeneland for trainer Graham Motion and rider Joe Bravo.

Kodiak West, by Kodiac
Last 2 Beyers: 80-77

◗ Top European rider Andrea Atzeni, who will ride the first month and a half of the Santa Anita meet, picks up the mount.

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