International runners ~ American Oaks, Cash Call Mile

[my miss storm cat]

From HP barn notes.....

JAPANESE ANSWER THE CASH CALL

Three highly regarded females from Japan are scheduled to arrive in California early Monday morning and clear quarantine Wednesday in an effort to succeed Dance in the Mood in the winner's circle for the $1-million CashCall Mile for fillies and mares on turf July 6.

The formidable triumvirate of Japanese-breds is composed of Dia de la Novia, Kiss to Heaven and Koiuta.

Dia de la Novia, a 5-year-old chestnut mare by Sunday Silence, has won four of 19 starts and earned $2,380,954. She won the Group III Kyoto Himba Stakes in January. Kiss to Heaven, a 4-year-old filly, has won three of 16 starts and earned $1,626,209. She won the Group I Oka Sho Japanese 1000 Guineas last year.

Koiuta, a 4-year-old chestnut filly, has won five of 16 starts and earned $2,002,101. She won the Victoria Mile in her last start on May 13 as a 59-to-1 longshot, defeating Asahi Rising by one-half length.

Racing secretary Martin Panza issued nine other invitations Sunday. Four went to Eclipse Award-winning filly Wait a While with Todd Pletcher in New York, Just A Game Handicap winner My Typhoon with Bill Mott in New York, multiple stakes winner Lady of Venice with Patrick Biancone in Kentucky, and multiple Canadian stakes winner Strike Softly with Mark Frostad at Woodbine.

Trainer Bobby Frankel received invitations for a duo of Precious Kitten, winner of the Gallorette Handicap at Pimlico in her last start; and Price Tag, winner of the Grade I Matriarch here last autumn and runner-up in the Grade I Gamely Breeders' Cup Stakes in her last outing.

Other local invitees are Dancing Edie, winner of the Grade I John Mabee Handicap and fourth-place finisher in the CashCall last year; Somethinaboutlaura, winner of the Redondo Beach Stakes in her last start, and Alexandra Rose, a South African import awaiting her U.S. debut in the Neil Drysdale stable.