Santa Ysabel favorite Dream Tree passes on an off track

With Saturday's races set to run over an off track at Santa Anita Park, 6-5 morning line favorite Dream Tree scratched from the Grade 2 Santa Ysabel Stakes field.

An unbeaten filly trained by Bob Baffert, Dream Tree was set for a rematch with Midnight Bisou, the 7-5 second choice also seen as a top 2018 Kentucky Oaks hopeful on the West Coast.

The Santa Ysabel awards 50 Oaks qualifying points to its winner, essentially guaranteeing a spot in the Churchill Downs starting gate the first Friday in May. Baffert told TVG's Scott Hazelton he'll "wait for the next one" for Dream Tree, with the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks set for April 7.

Dream Tree twice defeated Midnight Bisout during the fillies' juvenile campaigns, hitting the wire a nose in front in both maiden special weight company and the Grade 3 Desi Arnaz Stakes. Since separating, Dream Tree dominated the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos as well as the Grade 2 Las Virgenes back at Santa Anita. Midnight Bisou emerged a winner in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez.

Dream Tree's ownership group, Phoenix Thoroughbreds, fielded West Coast-based Mourinho with unsuccessful results in a recent Kentucky Derby prep at Oaklawn Park, the Southwest Stakes. But the horse had already shipped. With the Santa Ysabel an opportunity closer to home, Dream Tree will wait to run over a fast track.