Del Mar Oaks Preview

by Patricia Woo | Aug 17 2009

On Saturday, August 22, 3-year-old fillies will take to the Del Mar racetrack for the 53rd running of the Del Mar Oaks. A Grade 1 race boasting a purse of $350,000, the Del Mar Oaks is a turf test run at 9 furlongs. The lineup is expected to feature Honeymoon Handicap winner Well Monied, and could potentially include Starlarks, Strawberry Tart and Hameildaeme.

Kentucky-bred Well Monied confirmed her status as a 3-year-old turf runner to watch after winning her stakes debut, the $150,000 Gr. 2 Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood Park on May 31. On July 5, she turned in another strong performance in the $700,000 Gr. 2 American Oaks, also at Hollywood Park, closing well to clinch second place in a crowded field. Trained by Howard Zucker and owned by C.T. Grether, Well Monied has blossomed in mid-season and has developed a strong closing kick. She will likely be teamed up with regular rider Joel Rosario for the Del Mar Oaks, and the duo has combined for three wins in four outings.

Also emerging as a late-bloomer is Starlarks, who burst onto the American graded stakes scene on August 1 in the $150,000 Gr. 2 San Clemente Handicap with a come-from-behind win against favorite Carlsbad on the Del Mar turf. This Irish-bred 3-year-old has faced several of her potential Del Mar Oaks challengers before at Hollywood Park: She finished third behind Well Monied and Hameildaeme in an allowance race on May 2, and prior to her San Clemente Handicap score, finished behind Strawberry Tart in her stakes debut on July 3 in the Flawlessly Stakes. Trainer Patrick Gallagher has liked what he has seen in his maturing charge: "[The Del Mar Oaks] would be quite a step up for her, but maybe she can do it." Starlark's race record is currently at 14-4-2-2, with career earnings of $171,237. Gallagher trains last year's Del Mar Oaks champion, Magical Fantasy.

Strawberry Tart, who was just caught at the wire in the San Clemente Handicap by Starlarks, will be looking to even the score in the Del Mar Oaks. Trainer Jeff Bonde will have his charge stretching out once again, this time past a mile, should she start in Saturday's race. Since teaming up with jockey Martin Garcia, Strawberry Tart has won two of three races and has shown that she is well-suited to longer distances. Her 2009 race record stands at 6-4-1-0 and she has earned $181,745 for owners George and Mary Clare Schmitt.

In her American graded stakes debut, British invader Hameildaeme finished third behind Starlarks and Strawberry Tart in the San Clemente Handicap. But her rallying finish showed she has potential to ascend in the turf miler ranks, should she be able to overcome a lack of maturity; she will, however, be in for a tough test in the Del Mar Oaks. Trained by Jamie Lloyd, Hameildaeme has won two of four starts this year and earned $94,600 for owner Newmarket TR.

Last year's Del Mar Oaks champion, Magical Fantasy, was a 42-1 longshot going into the race - she has since gone on to win such noted races as the $250,000 Gr. 1 Gamely Stakes and the $350,000 Gr.1 John C. Mabee Stakes in 2009. Who will win this year's Del Mar Oaks?

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