Looking for a 13th victory in the $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes (G3) on Saturday, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sends out four of the eight 2-year-old fillies seeking an all-fees paid automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
The 1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf, which was known as the Chandelier Stakes from 2012-2023, is one of three BC “Win and You’re In’’ races on Saturday’s Santa Anita card. The others are the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) and the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2).
The Baffert quartet includes the three favorites – 2-1 Non Compliant, 5-2 Tenma, and 3-1 Nooni. Showers is 12-1.
Baoma Corp.’s Tenma and jockey Kazushi Kimura win the Grade I $300,000 FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante Saturday September 7, 2024 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA.
Benoit Photo
Tenma Could give trainer Bob Baffert a record 13th win in the Oak Leaf Stakes
Tenma, winner of the Del Mar Debutante (G1) at 7 furlongs on Sept. 8, rallied from off the pace under Kazushi Kimura and won by a nose to improve to 2-0.
Nooni, the beaten favorite who faded to fifth in the Debutante, looks to make amends. The $1.8 million filly won in her debut by 9 ½ lengths going 5 furlongs and then won the Sorrento Stakes going 6 furlongs.
Martin Garcia has the call leaving from post 4.
Non Compliant, a bay filly by Tiz the Law, won her debut by 1 ½ lengths on Aug. 31 at Del Mar, and will be ridden by Juan Hernandez from post 8.
Showers ran second in her debut going 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 10, and 15 days later won by five lengths against maidens. Showers will be ridden for the first time by Antonio Fresu out of post 6.
Of the four non-Baffert trainees, In the Air Tonight could spoil a sweep. The Stay Thirsty filly won her first two starts then ran second in the 6-furlong Generous Portion Stakes on Sept. 2 at Del Mar.
The Oak Leaf is race 3 with a post time of 5 p.m. ET.
For those who bet horse racing …
The picks: 1 Nooni 2 Tenma 3 Showers
The field for the $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes (G2), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 Rio Del Sol (Ricardo Gonzalez, Michael McCarthy), 20-1
2 Jack’s Magic Girl (Hector Berrios, OJ Jauregoi), 15-1
3 Tenma (Kazushi Kimura, Bob Baffert), 5-2
4 Nooni (Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert), 3-1
5 In the Air Tonight (Tiago Pereira, Steve Knapp), 5-1
6 Showers (Antonio Fresu, Bob Baffert), 12-1
7 Om N Joy (Edwin Maldonado, Aggie Ordonez), 20-1
8 Non Compliant (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert), 2-1
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
