Strict Compliance opts for Penn Oaks over American Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. – Strict Compliance, a winner of consecutive races at Gulfstream Park and Keeneland this year, will make her stakes debut in Saturday’s $150,000 Penn Oaks at Penn National and not the $400,000 American Oaks at Santa Anita, trainer Chad Brown said on Wednesday.

“I decided not to put her on the plane,” Brown said.

Strict Compliance drew the rail in the Grade 1 American Oaks, which will now have a maximum field of six. Brown still will have two runners in the American Oaks – Consumer Credit, a three-time stakes winner, and Mrs McDougal, who will be making her stakes debut.

The other runners in the American Oaks are the stakes winners Feathered, Sharla Rae, and Spanish Queen and the Kentucky shipper Dating Lady Luck.

The American Oaks is run at 1 1/4 miles on turf. The Penn Oaks is run at a mile on turf.

Strict Compliance, by Into Mischief, has won two of three starts and earned $73,100 for Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence. Strict Compliance was second in a maiden race at Belmont Park last October in her only start at 2. Earlier this year, she won a maiden race at Gulfstream Park and an allowance race at Keeneland.