Oak Tree
The Oak Tree Racing Association will embark upon its 38th season of world-class racing at Santa Anita Park on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
The $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs down Santa Anita´s unique downhill El Camino Real turf course will highlight the opening day festivities and is one of 28 advertised stakes races to be offered at the 26-day meeting, which concludes Sunday, Oct. 29.
Oak Tree Racing at Santa Anita Park Oak Tree will offer a total of 12 graded stakes at the meet, including four grade one events.
Breeders´ Cup prep races will be the order of the day the first two weekends of the meet, and three grade one stakes will be contested on the first Saturday, Sept. 30: The $400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf for fillies and mares three and up, the $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles on turf for 3-year-olds and up and the $250,000 Oak Leaf Breeders´ Cup Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies.
The Gr. II, $250,000 Lady´s Secret Breeders´ Cup Handicap will be run on Sunday, Oct. 1. The Lady´s Secret is for fillies and mares three and up and will be run at 1 1/16 miles.
On Saturday, Oct. 7, the Gr. I, $250,000 Ancient Title Breeders´ Cup Stakes for 3-year-olds and up, will showcase some of the nation´s best sprinters at six furlongs. The Gr. II, $500,000 Goodwood Breeder´s Cup Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles, and the Gr. II, $250,000 Oak Tree Breeders´ Cup Mile Turf for three-year-olds and up, will also be run on October 7.
The Gr. II, $250,000 Norfolk Stakes will be run on Sunday Oct. 8, and will showcase 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. The Gr. II, $150,000 Oak Tree Derby, at 1 1/8 miles on turf, will take place on the third weekend, on Saturday, Oct. 14.
This year´s Breeders´ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Churchill Downs.
The Gr. III, $100,000 Carlton F. Burke Handicap will mark its 38th renewal on Saturday, Oct. 21. The Burke is for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/2 miles on turf.
California Cup XVII, a series of races dedicated to horses bred in California, will be run on Saturday, Oct. 28. This year´s Cal Cup will include 10 stakes races worth $1,325,000, with the highlight being the $250,000 Cal Cup Classic at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up.
The Gr. II, $150,000 Las Palmas Handicap for fillies and mares three and up at one mile on turf, and the Gr. III, $100,000 Morvich Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf, will serve as co-features on closing day, October 29.
