Thought Process headlines big Oaks field
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Led by the three-time stakes winner Thought Process, the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Saturday has an expected field of 12 3-year-old fillies.
Thought Process, an easy winner of the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar on July 19, is one of two fillies trained by Phil D'Amato in the big field. He also starts Slick, who finished third in an allowance race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 20.
D’Amato has won 69 stakes at Del Mar and will equal the late Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel for seventh place on the track’s all-time list with his next stakes win. D’Amato has an opportunity to reach the milestone with three runners in Friday’s $100,000 CTT-TOC Stakes with Kentucky Gal, Starry Heavens and Sun of Hill.
Other expected runners in the Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf are Casalu, Edge of Mali, Firenze Flavor, Lush Lips, Miso Phansy, Resolve, Striver, Take a Breath, Velocity, and Will Then. Casalu, Firenze Flavor, and Will Then won turf stakes at Santa Anita earlier this year, while Lush Lips won the Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 28.