4/11-13 (OP): Fantasy (G2); Red Bud, Carousel; Apple Blossom (G1)
 

WEDNESDAY 9th (5:11) Fantasy S. (G2)

1 1/16 Miles | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $300,000

1 Mamma Kimbo Smith M E 117 L
2 Wait Til Dawn Castellano J J 121 L
3 Kittty Kat Karly Quinonez L S 117 L
4 Livi Makenzie Kuntzweiler G 117 L
5 Jemima's Pearl Talamo J 117 L
6 Off Limits Alvarado J 117 Blk-On L
7 Illegally Blonde Thompson T J 117 L
8 Amie's Dini Court J K 121 L

THURSDAY 8th (4:44) Carousel S.

6 Furlongs | Fillies and Mares | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $75,000

1 Rattlin Gyspy Borel C H 115 L
2 Mysterious Chimes Vazquez R A 117 L
3 Beat the Blues Mena M 115 L
4 Salty Strike Smith M E 115
5 Omi's Vindication Rocco J S Jr 115 L
6 Gleaming Berry M C 119 L
7 Class E Holiday Ocampo I 115 L
8 Wild Hope Hill C 117 L



THURSDAY 9th (5:11) Red Bud S.

1 1/16 Miles | Fillies and Mares | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $100,000

1 America's Blossom Hill C 117 L
2 Tiz Miz Sue Rocco J S Jr 119 L
3 Cascabella Quinonez L S 117 L
4 Remit Nakatani C S 117 L
5 Miss Hockaday Joubert J 117 L
6 Another World Berry M C 117 L
7 Holy Heavens Vazquez R A 117 L
8 Soaring Goddess Corbett G W 115 L

So Oaklawn is running a 100k stakes for older fillies the day before the Apple Blossom?

Makes sense.

And a 75k stake the day before the OP Handicap. Also a 100k stake the day before the Ark Derby, and a 100k stake two days after the Fantasy.

This for a track that was out-handled by Golden Gate on Saturday...

Other than the Derby preps, it really is an insignificant meet.

I agree, and i know there's a lot of diehard Oaklawn natives that love to beat their chest about the field sizes and purse increases, which is all well and good, and I personally don't have anything negative to say about their track, as I know the locals love it.

But the reason the field sizes for the Southwest and Rebel was so large, was because there wasn't a standout 3-year old from that region, nor has their been for quite some time, and Baffert sweeping those races with his California shippers strengthens this argument.

FRIDAY 9th (5:31) Instant Racing S.

1 Mile | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $100,000

1 Scat Baby Quinonez L S 115 L
2 Ithinkisawapudycat Berry M C 115 L
3 Keewatin Ice Johnson J M 119 L
4 Run Wild Court J K 115 L
5 Glinda the Good Nakatani C S 119 L
6 Yvete Sangalo (MEX) Thompson T J 119 L
7 Amazing Shoes Ocampo I 115 L
8 Livi Makenzie Kuntzweiler G 119 L
9 Morrow Cove Borel C H 115 L
10 Kittty Kat Karly Rocco J 115 L
11 Soonerette Smith M E 119 L
12 Zapper Belle Hill C 119 L



FRIDAY 10th (6:04) Apple Blossom H. (G1)

1 1/16 Miles | Fillies and Mares | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $500,000

1 Tiz Miz Sue Rocco J S Jr 115 L
2 Holy Heavens Vazquez R A 111 L
3 Absinthe Minded Thompson T J 114 L
4 Twelve Twenty Two Borel C H 113 L
5 Plum Pretty Bejarano R 117 L

Mamma Kimbo super impressive just now winning the Fantasy. Never even dropped down to really run.

Who was the dude on Facebook bickering with you about her performance? He bashed Amie's Dini ability to get 8.5f? Guess he has never applied the " key race" method to his analysis.

Anthony Kelzenberg, who knows a thing or two. Not sure why he was so unimpressed. She never extended herself really despite the mid-stretch reminders from Smith who even relaxed on her the last 100 yards. She kept running well past the wire too like the first time around two turns took nothing out. Waiting for the figure but it should be high 90's (96-99). For a first route/first ship/first stake, it was a darn nice 2nd career start. She has a very compact stride with those little flicking steps. Anxious to talk to Baffert on air about her and want to find out who worked with her as a young horse.

Does this mean he may saddle 3 in the Oaks?