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Occult returns in Gazelle; new faces intrigue in Santa Anita Oaks

Apr 06, 2023 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

The prospective field for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) will firm up on Saturday with the last two preps worth the maximum number of points – the $250,000 Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct and, on the West Coast, the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2).

The Gazelle and Santa Anita Oaks each offer points on the 100-40-30-20-10 basis to the top five eligible finishers. After Saturday, only one scoring race remains on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, the April 16 Beaumont (G2) at Keeneland, an about seven-furlong affair that awards 10 points to the winner.
As Aqueduct’s third race on Saturday, the Gazelle is scheduled for 1:27 p.m. (ET), and the Santa Anita Oaks concludes the blockbuster day of stakes action as the 11th race at Santa Anita (8 p.m. ET).
Here are three talking points for the Oaks preps:
1. Trainer Chad Brown is double-handed in the Gazelle with Occult and Shidabhuti.

The winners of the past two points races at Aqueduct, Chad Brown stablemates Occult and Shidabhuti meet for the first time. Occult drew off impressively in the Jan. 14 Busanda S. at this 1 1/8-mile distance. The following prep, the March 4 Busher S., was held over a mile, and instead of shortening up for that race, Occult awaited the Gazelle. In her absence in the Busher, Shidabhuti rolled from off the pace to stay undefeated and put herself into the Oaks picture. Finishing third in the Busher was the Brad Cox-trained Capella, who tries again in the Gazelle and figures to show more over the added ground.

Shidabhuti, on the other hand, must answer the distance question in this first try around two turns. A freshened Occult, proven at the trip, is arguably the biggest danger. The dynamic duo are drawn next to each other, Occult in post 5 and Shidabhuti in the outside post 6.
2. Gambling Girl returns to Aqueduct after trying Wet Paint at Oaklawn.
Gambling Girl is another veteran of Aqueduct’s Road to the Oaks. A close third in the Dec. 3 Demoiselle (G2) at this track and trip, the Todd Pletcher filly finished second to Occult in the Busanda. Gambling Girl likewise skipped the one-turn Busher, but she didn’t stay idle. She ventured to Oaklawn Park for the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee (G3) and rallied for fourth behind the streaking Wet Paint.
Back up to 1 1/8 miles here, Gambling Girl is eligible to perform better. At the same time, she’ll give a read on how Wet Paint’s form stacks up versus the Brown duo. Pletcher also has two chances; his other runner is Eclipse Thoroughbreds’ new recruit Frosty O Toole, who joins the barn after winning two straight at Tampa Bay Downs.
3. The Santa Anita Oaks could see a shake-up of the West Coast division.
The most accomplished entrants in the Santa Anita Oaks, unbeaten Faiza and And Tell Me Nolies, ran one-two in the March 5 Santa Ysabel (G3) at this 1 1/16-mile trip. Yet that result isn’t likely to have significant bearing on the Oaks picture. 
Faiza is ineligible for the Kentucky Oaks, since trainer Bob Baffert is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. And Tell Me Nolies was the division leader in Southern California until her eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), but her Brisnet Speed ratings had been a bit light, hinting that she wouldn’t retain that position. Although Faiza then stepped up with wins in the Starlet (G1) and Las Virgenes (G3), her Speed figures haven’t been dazzling either.
Hence the Santa Anita Oaks could be ripe for a fresh face to emerge, and there are several candidates fitting that description. Princess Bettina employs the turf-to-dirt angle after crushing the March 18 China Doll S. in wire-to-wire fashion. By champion Will Take Charge, the Peter Eurton pupil is bred to act on dirt, and she’s much improved since her initial tries on the main track in sprints as a juvenile. 
The other attractive contenders are stakes debutantes coming off big maiden wins – Michael McCarthy’s Clearly Unhinged, a sharp front-runner in her unveiling at 6 1/2 furlongs; the Richard Mandella pair of Venganza and Window Shopping (who romped by 16 lengths in an off-the-turf maiden); and Cliquish for Phil D’Amato.

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