Santa Anita notes: Oscar Party pointing to Autumn Miss

ARCADIA, Calif. - Oscar Party, purchased for $510,000 at the paddock sale at Del Mar in July, will start in the $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes for 3-year-olds fillies over a mile on turf Saturday.

Owned by Deron Pearson, Oscar Party has started twice since the sale, finishing fifth in the Sandy Blue Handicap at Del Mar and second in the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks at Indiana Downs on Oct. 5.

“I’ve not seen her better since I’ve got her,” trainer Jim Cassidy said.

Cassidy dismissed the loss at Del Mar, saying that Oscar Party “was too far back” after a slow start.

Other expected runners in the Autumn Miss are Wishing Gate, second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, and Need You Now, who was sixth in the Del Mar Oaks after winning the Le Cle Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park in July.

Becky Lou, who won an optional claimer over a mile on turf here in April in her U.S. debut, will be part of the field. She was fourth behind Breeders’ Cup Distaff hopeful Beholder in the Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 1.

“She does like this course and runs well fresh,” trainer Matt Chew said.

Madame Cactus waits for La Brea

Madame Cactus, winner of the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland last Saturday, was not pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 2.

“We didn’t want to have the temptation,” trainer Peter Eurton said.

Owned by Marc Ferrell, Madame Cactus will be saved for the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes over seven furlongs for 3-year-olds in late December.

“It was a tough race,” Eurton said of the Raven Run. “She runs well fresh.”

By Cactus Ridge, Madame Cactus has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $325,800. The Raven Run was her first graded stakes win.

◗ Flashback, unraced since a second in the Santa Anita Derby in April, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on Wednesday. Trained by Bob Baffert for Gary and Mary West, Flashback is a candidate for the $100,000 Damascus Stakes for 3-year-olds over seven furlongs on Nov. 2.

◗ David Flores, who has ridden in Kentucky this fall, has the mount aboard Oscar Party in the Autumn Miss on Saturday. Flores said Wednesday that he plans to ride in Southern California until mid-November before moving to Fair Grounds in New Orleans for the winter.

◗ Tom’s Tribute is a candidate for the $250,000 Hollywood Derby on Dec. 1, trainer Jim Cassidy said Wednesday.