Turbulent Descent, Zazu Meet Again in Santa Anita Oaks
Zazu and Turbulent Descent, the top two finishers in the Las Virgenes (G1), meet three rivals in Saturday's Santa Anita Oaks (G1).
Turbulent Descent captured all three of her juvenile starts and concluded her 2010 season with a good looking tally in the Hollywood Starlet (G1) in December. She made her first dirt start in the Las Virgenes and rallied to finish a clear second behind Zazu. She goes second off the shelf today and could move forward with a race over the Santa Anita Park oval.
Zazu finished behind her aforementioned rival twice last year and the improving stretch runner got sweet revenge on Feb 5. Joel Rosario rides her well and she shoots for back-to-back grade one wins for Ann Moss, Jerome Moss, and trainer John Sadler.
[Who does Brian Appleton rate as his #1 Kentucky Oaks contender? Check out his latest Kentucky Oaks Runner Novel Nine blog]
A Z Warrior scratched out of the hillside La Habra (G3) in favor of this. The Bob Baffert trainee beat recent Davona Dale (G2) winner R Heat Lightning in last year's Frizette (G1) and was last seen finishing 12th (bruised foot) in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). She has been in steady training since late December and figures to stalk stablemate May Day Rose.
May Day Rose was a pace casualty in the Las Virgenes but she could hang around longer today. Martin Garcia hops aboard the inside speed factor. She will have to run much better to hold her classy rivals at bay.
Kilograeme beat highly regarded Mandella trainee Rumor in a flat mile entry level allowance race Feb 13. Mike Mitchell's promising filly is 2-for-2 and gets tested for class in this spot.
The 8.5 furlong Santa Anita Oaks is the 4th race on a stakes filled card featuring the Santa Anita Handicap (G1).