She's even better on turf

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Wait a While was an accomplished filly earlier this year in major stakes on dirt. It seems those performances were a warm-up to her true calling of racing on turf.

In her stakes debut on grass, Wait a While dominated seven rivals in Sunday's $750,000 at Hollywood Park, drawing off in the stretch to win by 4 1-2 lengths. The Grade 1 Oaks was Wait a While's second start on turf; she beat maidens on turf at Belmont Park last summer.

"We always felt she was better on grass," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "It was a matter of getting her back on it."

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Wait a While ($7.80) ran the best race of her career in the American Oaks. She ran 1 1-4 miles on turf in 1:59.38.

Asahi Rising, a stakes winner from Japan who was sent off as the 8-5 favorite, finished second, a half-length in front of Canadian invader Arravale. Attima, who won the Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap here in June, led for the first seven furlongs, but faded to finish last in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies.

Jockey Alex Bisono, who rode sixth-place finisher Foxysox, lodged an objection against Wait a While for an alleged bumping incident on the final turn. The stewards rejected the claim after a four-minute review.

Wait a While had an ideal trip. She was fourth on the backstretch, tracking Attima through early fractions of 23.83 and 47.81 seconds. Wait a While moved into contention quickly on the final turn, with a three-wide rally.

"It worked out beautifully," Pletcher said. "She rated kindly. She's been training so sharp I wanted to make sure that she could relax and settle off the pace. She really kicked home big."

Owned by Alan Cohen, Wait a While has won 5 of 10 starts and $888,087. She was third in the Kentucky Oaks on dirt earlier this year.

*Siren Lure gave veteran trainer Art Sherman his first Grade 1 win in Sunday's $300,000 for sprinters.

Ridden by Alex Solix, Siren Lure ran seven furlongs in 1:21.29, finishing 1 1-2 lengths in front of Battle Won, who was near the front throughout. Unfurl the Flag, the defending champion, finished third after setting the pace. Trickey Trevor, the 3-1 favorite, finished ninth in a field of 10.

Siren Lure ($8.60) was seventh on the backstretch and began closing ground on the turn. "I knew I was in a good position and I thought he'd kick it in," Sherman said. "I told Alex, 'Give him some place to go.'"

Siren Lure rallied three-wide through the stretch and took the lead in the final furlong. Owned by a partnership, Siren Lure, 5, has won a remarkable 11 of 19 starts and $589,909. He was claimed for $50,000 in May 2005 at Bay Meadows and has won six stakes for his current connections.

Sherman, 67, trains primarily on the Northern California circuit.

*Charming N Lovable won her third consecutive stakes, and first stakes in the $100,000 Flawlessly Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Ridden by Solis, Charming N Lovable ($4.80) ran a mile on turf in 1:34.68, finishing 1 1-2 lengths in front of Soothsay in a field of nine.