Night Leads

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2009) – Zayat Stable’s Kays and Jays, having recovered from a foot abscess that sidelined her in July, returned to action Sunday to turn back fast-closing Irish Gypsy and win the seven-furlong $67,338 Cascapedia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length at Santa Anita.

The second running of the Cascapedia provided Joel Rosario with his second win on Oak Tree’s closing day and moved him to within one victory of leader Rafael Bejarano, 31-30, in the 31-day meet’s jockeys’ standings.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2009) – The Usual Q. T. withstood a late charge by favored Battle of Hastings Saturday to gain his fourth straight victory and first in a graded stakes race when victorious by a head in the 40th running of the Grade II, $150,000 Oak Tree Derby for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

With the buzz from Zenzatta’s breathtaking triumph in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic still stirring the crowd of 58,854, The Usual Q. T.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 31, 2009) – Zayat Stables’ Macias, a 2-year-old Purge colt trained by Bob Baffert, successfully made the transition into the stakes ranks Saturday when denying the closing bid of Hurricane Ike to take Oak Tree’s 35th running of the $60,413 Jack Goodman Stakes by a neck while negotiating six furlongs in 1:08.98.

With Garrett Gomez in the saddle, Macias overtook pace-setter Our Minesweeper entering the stretch, drew clear, and gamely withstood the late challenge by Hurricane Ike with Joe Talamo aboard.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2009) – Claimed for $40,000 in August, Dance With Gable gained a second stakes victory for his new connections on Wednesday when prevailing under a front-running ride by Rafael Bejarano in Oak Leaf’s inaugural running of the $54,280 California Sky Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course.

After resisting a bid by A Lil Dumaani at the head of the stretch, Dance With Gable drew clear again to score by one length over fast-closing Big Bad Leroybrown with the filly Flashover another three-quarters of a length back in third.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 25, 2009) – Bert’s Law, at 8-1 the second longest price in a field of seven, survived a pace battle on the front end to gamely prevail by one length over Fire Break Sunday in Oak Tree’s $48,000 Mendocino Purse at one mile over Santa Anita’s Camino Real Turf Course.

It was the first win in the last seven starts for the 4-year-old gelding trained by Ed Moger Jr. who last was victorious in a $16,000 claimer at Hollywood Park on May 30.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2009) – The presence of three-time national riding champion Garrett Gomez notwithstanding, April Pride was accorded little respect before charging home between horses Saturday to gain her first graded stakes victory with a 1 ½-length victory in Oak Tree’s Grade III, $100,000 Harold C. Ramser Sr. Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at one-mile over Santa Anita’s Camino Real Turf Course.

The bold rally enabled the British-bred 7-1 longshot to overtake pace-setter Century Park, a 13-l outsider, who finished second, a neck ahead of 6-1 Starlarks.