Surrey Star Aims for Oak Tree Derby

Surrey Star seeks his first graded stakes win next Saturday in the Grade II Oak Tree Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf.


Jim Cassidy is encouraged with the Irish-bred colt’s training since finishing fifth by 2 ½ lengths in the Grade II La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar Aug. 13.


“He’s acting well and his works have been consistent,” Cassidy said. Surrey Star, a bay son of Dubawi owned by Class Racing Stable’s Joe Masino of Escondido, won the La Puente Stakes at Santa Anita last April at the same distance as the Oak Tree Derby.


Probable for the Oak Tree Derby: Cloud Man, Mike Smith; Midnight Interlude, Rafael Bejarano; Surrey Star, no rider; Ultimate Eagle, Martin Pedroza; and Venomous, Joel Rosario. Oak Tree Derby nominee Western Aristocrat was a wire-to-wire winner of Saturday’s Jamaica at Belmont and will not run in the Oak Tree Derby for trainer Jeremy Nosada.

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