The G1 Del Mar Oaks has always attracted some of the best 3-year-old fillies in the country. This year, it’s attracting horses from across the pond. Two Euros head up the 10-horse field that kicks off the late stakes pick three on Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar.
Kensington Lane made her U.S. debut on July 4th and promptly won the G1 Belmont Oaks at Saratoga, fending off two fine fillies in Faithful Departed and Fitz Right through the lane. She was trained that day by Donnacha O’Brien, her trainer in Ireland and son of Aidan O’Brien.
But when the connections decided to come out to the west coast, Kensington Lane landed in Philip D’Amato’s barn at Del Mar.
“She came here about a month ago and she’s done nothing wrong so far,” D’Amato claims. “She’s been training like a consummate pro.”
The other Euro invader is Green Carrera, who is trained by Donnacha’s brother Joseph and was last seen winning at the prestigious Royal Ascot meet. The English-bred arrived at Del Mar Saturday.
“She settled into her routine very quickly,” O’Brien’s assistant Mikey Hamill noted. “She’s eating and drinking and we’re very happy with her.”
Green Carrera changed ownership after winning at The Curragh in Ireland in May prior to winning the Sandringham Handicap at Ascot in England in June. She returned to Ireland and ran second at Killarney last month.
“It’s a very quick track and you’re always turning,” Hamill says of Killarney. “I imagine she’s sharpened up lots from it. The form from that race has worked out quite well with four horses coming out and winning.”
While the two Euros will likely top the wagering, the Del Mar Oaks is not without some good “American” fillies. Tam Tam is one of the better fillies in training and comes into the race off of a 5 ¾ length win in the $250,000 Tepin at Churchill Downs in June.
“I think we had a little bit of an excuse in the Regret,” trainer Philip Bauer says of Tam Tam’s race before the Tepin, “so it was nice to see her return to her best. We felt good going into the race but when she ran like she did it was a bit of a sigh of relief. It gave us confidence to pursue this venture here.”
Bauer says Tam Tam handled the ship and has settled in well.
“We’re a different outfit, everything is private,” Bauer explains. “We’re looking to make decisions that will help us in the long run. Getting a Grade I , win or placing, would be major for this filly moving forward as far as broodmare value. They’re giving away a lot of money next month at Kentucky Downs but we felt the Grade I was the better target for us.”
Trainer Brendan Walsh is bringing a pair of fillies to the Del Mar Oaks. Raiding Party ran third in the G2 San Clemente last out, the local prep for the Oaks on opening weekend.
“It wasn’t the greatest trip,” Walsh states. “She ended up going wide and we could have used a little more pace. The extra furlong on Saturday will suit her well and she’s had the experience of a run over the track which I feel will be an advantage for her.”
Walsh will also start Define, who made her U.S. debut last month and broke her maiden at first asking.
“I thought she ran very well,” Walsh contends. “She couldn’t have been more impressive. The owners were keen to give her a shot at this race and she had been running well in England before she came to us.”
Define arrived in Walsh’s barn earlier this summer.
D’Amato is doing Walsh one better with three entries in the Oaks. In addition to Kensington Lane he’ll start Inbox, runner-up in the San Clemente and Peanutbutterbombe, who had a troubled trip and still ran fourth in the San Clemente.
The 70th running of the G1 Del Mar Oaks, a 1 1/8-mile test on the turf, is Race 9 on the Pacific Classic undercard. Probable post time is 6 p.m.
Here’s the field from the rail with the jockeys and the morning line odds: Victorious Dream (Juan Hernandez, 12-1); Lookin at Diamond (Julien Leparoux, 15-1); Tam Tam (Junior Alvarado, 4-1); Green Carrera (Umberto Rispoli, 7/2); Define (Kazushi Kimura, 15-1); Inbox (Hector I Berrios, 10-1); Peanutbutterbombe (Antonio Fresu, 12-1); Wild Like the West (Armando Ayuso, 30-1); Kensington Lane (Joel Rosario, 3-1), and Raiding Party (Ben Curtis, 4-1).