Oak Tree Racing Highlights

2008

Eventual Eclipse Award winner Zenyatta delivered a command performance in winning the 1 1/8 mile, Gr. I Ladies’ Classic on day one of the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships. This victory followed her triumph in the Gr. I Lady’s Secret on Sept. 27, and thus cemented her status as Horse of the Meet. Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, trained by John Shirreffs and ridden by Mike Smith, the 4-year-old daughter of Street Cry dominated seven rivals in the Ladies’ Classic, winning by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:46.85. Juddmonte Farms homebred Ventura dominated 12 distaffers to win the Sentient Flight Group Filly and Mare Sprint under Garrett Gomez. Trained by Bobby Frankel, the 4-year-old daughter of Chester House aired by 4 lengths, getting the seven furlongs in 1:19.90. Trainer John Gosden returned to Oak Tree from his native England for the biggest win of his career in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic with Kentucky-bred Raven’s Pass. With Frankie Dettori up, the 3-year-old colt by Elusive Quality stormed by eventual Horse of the Year Curlin turning for home and won the 1 1/4 miles Classic by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:59.27. Raven’s Pass was subsequently retired to stud by owners HRH Princess Haya of Jordan and Darley Stable. Also on Breeders’ Cup day two, the Irish-bred filly Goldikova routed 10 male rivals in winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile Turf by 1 1/4 lengths, in 1:33.40 under Oliver Peslier. Trained by Freddie Head and owned by Wertheimer and Frere, Goldikova split horses and burst to the lead leaving the 1/8 pole, in what was unquestionably one of the most impressive wins of the two-day event. Trainer Bob Baffert once again demonstrated his prowess by sending Midnight Lute to victory in the Sentient Flight Group Sprint. Idle since August at Del Mar, the 5-year-old son of Real Quiet rallied six wide into the stretch under Garrett Gomez to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Owned by Watson and Weitman Performances LLC and Mike Pegram, “Lute” got the six furlongs in 1:07.08. Another outstanding training job was in evidence in the TVG Dirt Mile, as the Vladimir Cerin-conditioned Albertus Maximus, under Gomez, rallied from far back to win by 1 1/4 lengths. The Marianne and Brandon Chase homebred son of Albert the Great got the distance in 1:33.41. Garrett Gomez won four races over the two days and was awarded the prestigious Bill Shoemaker Award as outstanding jockey.

2007

The great California-bred filly Nashoba’s Key, a 4-year-old daughter of Silver Hawk, who was bred by her owners, Mr. and Mrs. Warren B. Williamson, cruised to Horse of the Meet honors by winning the prestigious Gr. I Yellow Ribbon Stakes. Trained by Carla Gaines, the win ran “Nashoba’s” career record to a perfect seven for seven. She tasted defeat for the first time in her next start, when she was a troubled fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Monmouth Park. Tyler Baze took his first Oak Tree riding title with 29 wins, four better than Victor Espinoza. Doug O’Neill and Jeff Mullins dead heated atop the trainer standings with 13 wins apiece. Mullins led in stakes won with three. The California-bred Idiot Proof took the Gr. I Ancient Title Stakes en route to a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Trained by Clifford Sise, the 3-year-old gelded son of Benchmark was bred by his owners, Pam and Martin Wygod. California Cup XVIII was a huge success, as the total handle of $16,852,200 represented a 14 percent increase over 2006. The Bill Morey conditioned Bold Chieftain was the star of the day, winning the Cal Cup Classic under Russell Baze. Leading owner honors were shared by Barber and Barber, along with La Canada Stables LLC, as each had five wins. Jerry and Ann Moss led in money won, with earnings of $354,000.

2006

Oak Tree, which has produced more Breeders’ Cup winners than any other racing venue, was once again well represented as a total of 20 Oak Tree 2006 alumni competed in Breeders’ Cup XXIII. The California-bred Thor’s Echo took the Sprint under Corey Nakatani for trainer Doug O’Neill. O’Neill notched his second Oak Tree training title by winning 17 races, eight more than his nearest rival, John Sadler. Neil Drysdale led all trainers in stakes won, with four. Nakatani led the jockey standings from gate to wire and garnered his fourth Oak Tree riding title, compiling 24 wins. He was also the leading stakes-winning jockey with eight added money victories. Lava Man, another California-bred trained by O’Neill and ridden by Nakatani, won the $500,000 Gr. II Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap and was voted Horse of the Meeting and also best older horse. Robert Bone and J. Paul Reddam led all owners with five wins apiece. Reddam, Abergwaun Farm and the partnership of Bill Currin and Al Eisman led all owners with two stakes wins apiece. The Oct. 8 Norfolk Stakes was voted the Race of the Meet, as Stormello, under Kent Desormeaux, for owner/breeder/trainer William Currin, stamped himself as one of the nation’s top 2-year-olds, winning by a neck in 1:43.10.

2005

While the equine athletes who won Oak Tree stakes races in 2005 didn’t get their pictures taken in the winners’ circle on Breeders’ Cup day, Oak Tree’s human counterparts did. Garrett Gomez won two Breeders’ Cup races—aboard eventual male 2-year-old champion Stevie Wonderboy in the Juvenile, and Artie Schiller in the Mile—while trainer Doug O’Neill won his first Breeders’ Cup race with Stevie Wonderboy. Gomez captured the Oak Tree riding title with 44 victories, while Steve Knapp won his first-ever training title, overtaking Jeff Mullins on the final two days to edge his sometime advisor, 16-15. Rock Hard Ten, winner of the Grade II Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap, was named Horse of the Meet in Oak Tree’s annual media poll. Owned by the Mercedes Stable of Ernest Moody and Madeleine Pickens, and trained by Richard Mandella, Rock Hard Ten missed the Breeders’ Cup Classic due to an 11th-hour injury to his right front foot.

2004

Following in the footsteps of champion Halfbridled in 2003, Marty and Pam Wygod’s Sweet Catomine won the Oak Leaf Stakes before going on to capture the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and earn an Eclipse Award as 2-year-old filly champion. Juddmonte Farms’ Light Jig was named Oak Tree’s Horse of the Meet in the annual Media Poll. Corey Nakatani won the riding title with 21 wins, while Mike Mitchell captured the training crown with 13 wins from 30 starters for a 43 percent victory rate.

2003

Wertheimer Farms’ Halfbridled notched overpowering triumphs in the Oak Leaf Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and was voted Horse of the Meeting. The towering Unbridled fi lly made Julie Krone the fi rst woman rider to win a Breeders’ Cup event and was the fi rst of a record four Breeders’ Cup winners saddled by Richard Mandella (The Hall of Fame trainer has won a combined eight races at the last two Breeders’ Cups hosted by Oak Tree, including six BC wins). Diamond A Racing’s Pleasantly Perfect also dominated for Mandella, roaring from behind to take both the Goodwood Handicap and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at 14-1. Diamond A Racing Corp. (Gerald J. Ford of Houston, TX) set a single-season Oak Tree earnings record of $2,696,080. Patrick Valenzuela edged Tyler Baze, 34-33, to claim his fi rst Oak Tree riding title since 1988, and Doug O’Neill saddled a record 22 wins to claim his fi rst Oak Tree training title while fi nishing 10 clear of runner-up Bob Baffert. Baffert previously held the record with 21 wins in 1998.

2002

Horse of the Meeting Azeri toyed with her six rivals while winning the opening day Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup Handicap by 3 1/2 lengths. The Jade Hunter fi lly subsequently captured the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and was voted Horse of the Year for 2002. Laffi t Pincay Jr. rode 27 winners to take his third consecutive Oak Tree title, his sixth overall and his 43rd career championship. Arcadia native Jack Carava won his fi rst Oak Tree training title with 14 victories, the fi rst time since 1996 neither Bob Baffert nor Bill Spawr won the title.

2001

Horse of the Meeting Val Royal became the third straight horse to sweep the Oak Tree Mile and the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Tiznow, third to Freedom Crest in the Goodwood Handicap, became the first repeat winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Laffit Pincay Jr., with 33 wins, and Bill Spawr, 13 wins, defended their riding and training championships, respectively. California Cup XII attracted on-track attendance of 37,602, the largest Cal Cup Day crowd since 1992, and the total Cal Cup handle was a record $19,992,379.60.

2000

No less than three Oak Tree stakes winners were unsaddled following prolific victories at Breeders’ Cup XVII at Churchill Downs. Goodwood Handicap winner Tiznow clinched Horse of the Year honors with a tenacious victory in the BC Classic. Ancient Title winner Kona Gold capped a storybook season with a track-record performance in the Sprint, and War Chant, winner of the Oak Tree Mile, was brilliant while capturing the BC Mile. Laffit Pincay, Jr. won his first Oak Tree riding title since 1982, riding 31 winners including a record five stakes wins on Cal Cup Day, Oct. 28. The 53-year-old marvel recorded career win 9,000 on Chichim in the Cal Cup Distaff on Oct. 28.

1999

Early stakes provided profitable preparation for Breeders’ Cup Championship races. Jeffrey Sengara’s Budroyale, once a claimer, continued his remarkable success with a victory in the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap and went on to run second just a head behind Cat Thief in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Even more successful was Silic, who triumphed in the Breeders’ Cup Mile after capturing the Oak Tree Breeders’ Cup Mile Stakes. Kona Gold, second in the Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap, lost to Artax by only a half-length in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

1998

Bob Baffert set an Oak Tree training record with 21 wins. Prince Fahd bin Salman’s Fiji wrapped up the 1998 Eclipse Award for top turf filly or mare with a two-length victory in the Yellow Ribbon, her final start of 1998. Heinz Steinmann’s Buck Trout became the first maiden to win the Norfolk Stakes, and Excellent Meeting, owned by Golden Eagle Farm, took the Oak Leaf en route to a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies behind stablemate Silverbulletday. Silver Charm won the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap -- along with Horse of the Meet honors -- and went on to finish second to Awesome Again in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

1997

Bob Baffert tied Mike Mitchell’s 14-year-old record for most training victories when saddling 19 winners during the 27-day meet. His six stakes victories included the Norfolk and Oak Leaf with two-year-olds Souvenir Copy and Vivid Angel. Three-year-old filly Ryafan’s triumph in the Yellow Ribbon earned Horse of the Meet recognition and, later, the Eclipse Award as the nation’s top turf filly. Elmhurst prepared for his Breeders’ Cup Sprint win by taking the Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap.

1996

Three weeks before he upset Horse of the Year Cigar in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Ridder Thoroughbred Stable’s Alphabet Soup was disqualified from victory in the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap. The winner became second-place finisher Savinio. The next day, Savinio’s owner Gary Biszantz and trainer Walter Greenman won the Grade I Oak Tree Turf Championship via disqualification with Admise when Bon Point was moved from first to fifth. McCaffery and Toffan’s Free House, who rose to stardom at three, won his first stakes, the Grade II Norfolk. Seven-year-old Megan’s Interco, winner of the 1993 and 1995 Cal Cup Mile, took the 1996 Cal Cup Classic.

1995

Charles Cella’s Northern Spur used his victory in the $300,000 Oak Tree Invitational as a springboard to win the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Turf and Eclipse Award honors as champion male grass horse. Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron won a record 11 stakes races, including the $600,000 Yellow Ribbon aboard Sid and Jenny Craig’s Alpride. Robert and Barbara Walter’s Cavonnier defeated Ready To Order in the $100,000 Cal Cup Juvenile.

1994

Robert and Beverly Lewis’ Serena’s Song defeated favorite Call Now in the Grade I Oak Leaf Stakes, tipping her hand as one of racing’s superstars of 1995. Sandpit knocked off Grand Flotilla in the Grade I Oak Tree Invitational to give trainer Richard Mandella his second straight victory in the 1 1/2-mile turf classic, and Bertrando notched the final victory of his brilliant career, rallying to edge Dramatic Gold in the Grade II Goodwood Handicap.

1993

A record crowd of 87,674 at Santa Anita Park and its satellite locations wagered a then North American-record $36,264,799 when Oak Tree hosted Breeders’ Cup X on Nov. 6. Arcangues won the Breeders’ Cup Classic under jockey Jerry Bailey to record the greatest upset in Breeders’ Cup history, winning by two lengths at odds of $133.60-1. Five Breeders’ Cup winners were Eclipse Award winners: Sprint winner Cardmania; Juvenile Fillies winner Phone Chatter; Distaff winner Hollywood Wildcat; Mile winner Lure, and Turf winner Kotashaan, who was also named Horse of the Year. Trainer Richard Mandella saddled four horses on Breeders’ Cup Day and won with all four.

1992

Bob Hibbert’s Navarone scored his fifth straight win in taking the Oak Tree Invitational. The 4-year-old Irish River colt thus recorded the first Grade I stakes win for trainer Rodney Rash. Juddmonte Farms’ Super Staff nosed out favored Flawlessly in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes for leading jockey Kent Desormeaux. Upon winning the Autumn Days Handicap and California Cup Distaff, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Mabee’s Bel’s Starlet joined John Henry and Manta as the only four-time stakes winners in Oak Tree’s 24-year history.

1991

De Burgh, Prestonwood Farm and Robert Sangster’s Kostroma set a world record of 1:43.92 for 1 1/8 miles on turf in winning the Las Palmas Handicap by a half-length. She went on to join Estrapade as the only distaffers to win both the Las Palmas and the Yellow Ribbon Stakes in the same season. Buckland Farm’s Pleasant Stage scored her maiden victory in the Oak Leaf Stakes before winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and an Eclipse Award as the 1991 champion 2-year-old filly.

1990

Big prices prevailed in the big turf races as Plenty of Grace paid a record $114 in the Yellow Ribbon and Rial returned the second highest payoff on an Oak Tree Invitational winner at $56.80. Bill Shoemaker picked up his first Oak Tree and Santa Anita win as a trainer with Intimate Kid on Oct. 11.

1989

J. Shelton Meredith’s Hawkster set a world record of 2:22 4/5 in the Oak Tree Invitational over Santa Anita’s new turf course, which opened just prior to the Oak Tree meeting. Bill Shoemaker won the Harold C. Ramser, Sr. Handicap on Present Value. It was Shoe’s 62nd Oak Tree stakes victory and the last of his record 322 at Santa Anita Park. Calbourne Farm’s 7-year-old Brown Bess solidified her Eclipse Award as champion grass mare by winning the Yellow Ribbon Stakes by nearly two lengths.

1988

Eugene V. Klein’s One of a Klein gave trainer D. Wayne Lukas his sixth Oak Leaf Stakes victory in the last seven runnings. Nasr El Arab won the Oak Tree Invitational by two lengths over Great Communicator, who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf in his next start. Evergreen Farm’s Delighter won the Yellow Ribbon Stakes, which was won by her dam, Amazer, in 1978. Jockey Pat Valenzuela won six races on Oct. 31 and five races on Nov. 4.

1987

Mrs. Howard B. Keck’s Ferdinand captured the Goodwood Handicap under Bill Shoemaker and went on to become the third horse to win an Oak Tree stakes and Horse of the Year honors in the same season. It was the third of a four-race winning streak for the Charlie Whittingham trainee, who closed 1987 with a triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Kinghaven Farm’s Carotene arrived from Canada to score a $47.60 upset in the Yellow Ribbon.

1986

An Oak Tree record crowd of 69,155 attended the third Breeders’ Cup and saw victories by champions Smile, Brave Raj, Capote, Manila, and Horse of the Year Lady’s Secret. Capote also won the Norfolk Stakes. Estrapade defeated the colts in the Oak Tree Invitational.

1985

Grinstead and Rochelle’s Snow Chief roared home to win the Norfolk Stakes by three lengths. He went on to win the Santa Anita Derby, Preakness Stakes and honors as the nation’s top 3-year-old male in 1986. Summa Stable’s Estrapade won the Yellow Ribbon Stakes by three-quarters of a length.

1984

Star Crown Stable’s Chief’s Crown won the Norfolk Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths prior to winning the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and championship honors. Henryk de Kwiatkowski’s Sabin shipped in from New York to win the Yellow Ribbon Stakes and give trainer Woody Stephens his first Oak Tree victory.

1983

Mel Hatley’s Life’s Magic defeated stablemate and eventual champion 2-yearold filly Althea in the Oak Leaf Stakes before finishing second to Fali Time in the Norfolk Stakes. Edith de Gil’s Zalataia shipped in from France to defeat John Henry in the Oak Tree Invitational.

1982

Eclipse Award winners Roving Boy and Landaluce made their marks at Oak Tree. French and Beal’s Landaluce won the Anoakia Stakes by 10 lengths and the Oak Leaf Stakes by two. R. E. Hibbert’s Roving Boy won the Norfolk Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths. John Henry made it three straight in the Oak Tree Invitational, giving jockey Bill Shoemaker his eighth victory in the race. The daily average on-track attendance of 28,822 was highest in Oak Tree history.

1981

Elmendorf Farm’s Seafood and Eric Frank’s Waterway Drive deadheated for first in the Volante Handicap, the first deadheat in an Oak Tree stakes. Marvin L. Warner’s Stalwart won the Norfolk Stakes, with eventual Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol finishing third. In one of the most exciting races of his career, John Henry came back from apparent defeat to catch Spence Bay and win his second Oak Tree Invitational en route to Horse of the Year honors.

1980

Serge Fradkoff’s Kilijaro dominated the Yellow Ribbon Stakes, winning by 3 1/4 lengths. John Henry won his first of three Oak Tree Invitationals by 1 1/2 lengths en route to winning an Eclipse Award as champion grass horse.

1979

Saron Stable’s Bold ‘n Determined kept her undefeated record intact by winning the Oak Leaf Stakes by three lengths. The Henry P. Russell Handicap marked the first Southern California stakes win for John Henry. He won by 3 1/4 lengths, going wire-towire. Mrs. Howard B. Keck’s Balzac gave trainer Charlie Whittingham his eighth Oak Tree Invitational win in the first 11 runnings. Jockey Darrel McHargue won six races on Oct. 25. Chris McCarron rode an Oak Tree meet record 54 winners.

1978

Harbor View Farm’s It’s In the Air scored a 1 1/2-length win in the Oak Leaf Stakes en route to being named co-champion Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old filly. Nelson Bunker Hunt won both the Yellow Ribbon Stakes and the Oak Tree Invitational with Amazer and Exceller on successive days. B. J. Ridder’s homebred Flying Paster solidified his hold as the best 2-year-old in the West with a five-length win in the Norfolk Stakes. The Volante Handicap marked the initial Southern California appearance of Dotsam Stable’s great John Henry, who finished third as the favorite.

1977

The Hat Ranch’s Double Discount set a world record of 1:57 2/5 for 1 1/4 miles on turf in winning the Carleton F. Burke Handicap. Valpredo and Valpredo’s Star Ball won the inaugural Yellow Ribbon Stakes by three lengths. Cal-bred Crystal Water defeated Vigors and Ancient Title to give Bill Shoemaker his fifth Oak Tree Invitational win since 1971.

1976

Cardiff Stock Farm’s King Pellinore won the second running of the $350,000 stakes, The Champions, by a nose. King Pellinore also won the Carleton F. Burke Handicap and the Oak Tree Invitational, giving him three of the richest stakes of the meeting.

1975

Mrs. Arthur W. Stollery’s Dulcia won the $350,000 National Thoroughbred Championship over Royal Glint and Tizna. Dulcia earned $240,000 for the victory in the richest race in America up to that time. Howard Koch and Telly Savalas’ Telly’s Pop quickly became one of the most popular horses in training with his win in the Norfolk Stakes. Trainer Farrell Jones won four races on Oct. 15 and three more the next day.

1974

Tallahto became the first filly or mare to win either the Carleton F. Burke Handicap or the Oak Tree Invitational. Mrs. Howard B. Keck’s filly would be named Horse of the Meeting.

1973

Daniel Schwartz’s Portentous scored a wire-to-wire win in the Oak Tree Invitational and paid a record $77.20. Apprentice Steve Valdez matched a Santa Anita record with six wins on Oct. 15 and had a five-win day one week later.

1972

Cougar II became the first back-to-back winner of the Oak Tree Invitational. Mrs. Ethel D. Kirkland’s gelding, Ancient Title, won the Sunny Slope Stakes, the first of his 10 stakes triumphs at Santa Anita.

1971

Mary Jones’ Chilean star Cougar II won the Oak Tree Invitational. Bill Shoemaker won on all five of his mounts Oct. 30. Elmendorf Farm’s Manta won the Autumn Days Handicap, her fourth Oak Tree stakes win.

1970

Clement L. Hirsch’s juvenile filly June Darling won the Anoakia, Oak Leaf and the inaugural Norfolk Stakes. Cain Hoy Stable’s Ack Ack gave notice of things to come when he carried 128 pounds to win the Autumn Days Handicap.

1969

Bill Shoemaker won the first Oak Tree stakes, the Autumn Days Handicap, aboard Mrs. Howard B. Keck’s Tell, who would win Horse of the Meeting honors. Shoemaker won four of the nine stakes run. Apprentice Rudy Rosales won five races on Oct. 29.