Eclair Looks to Build on Success in California Oaks

After a somewhat embattled juvenile season that saw her hit the board in four of her six starts, Sarah Kelly and Jane Wiltz's Eclair will return to Golden Gate Fields May 31 to test her luck in the $75,000 California Oaks. 

It was in November during her first trip to Golden Gate that Eclair finally found herself in the winner's circle in stakes company. Facing a field of five competitors in the Golden Gate Debutante Stakes on the all-weather track, the Bernardini  filly raced wide heading into the turn, was guided out even wider in the stretch, and rallied to score the victory by a neck over her rivals. The win was the only victory of the filly's career aside from her maiden. 

Eclair returned to the Santa Anita Park homebase of her trainer, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, following the end of her juvenile season. Like so many others, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the filly's plans to return in the new season. Eclair has been training regularly at Santa Anita over the past several months. She most recently posted a four-furlong move May 27 going :49 flat on the main track. 

Stretching out to 1 1/16 miles for the California Oaks, Eclair will break from the outside post 7 under Drayden Van Dyke in her 2020 debut. 

Trainer Simon Callaghan will send out two in the California Oaks. First to the gate on Sunday will be Paige Anne, a Take Charge Indy  filly set to break from post 3 under Catalino Martinez. 

Owned by Elie Feghali, Lori Feghali, and Mark Mathiesen, Paige Anne won her first start of the year at Golden Gate, a Jan. 17 allowance optional claiming race at a mile on the all-weather. She finished fourth last out in the March 8 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita at the California Oaks distance. 

Racing for Gainesway Stable, LNJ Foxwoods, and Andrew Rosen is Mind Out, a Tapit  filly with three starts to her name—all on turf. An $850,000 purchase by Hugo Merry Bloodstock from the consignment of Gainesway to The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale, Mind Out broke her maiden on debut for Callaghan at 2 and placed third next out in the Surfer Girl Stakes. She finished second in her only start this year, a March 22 allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita. 

Mind Out will partner with Juan Hernandez from post 6. 

Jonathan Wong will also send out a pair from his stable. Willow Tree Farm homebred Reiwa will start from the rail under William Antongeorgi III. The California-bred daughter of James Street has finished second in four straight allowance races at Golden Gate. 

Dynasty of Her Own, a Shanghai Bobby filly owned by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, has a slightly better track record than her stablemate Reiwa. The 3-year-old opened 2020 with a win in the Jan. 26 Borderplex Stakes at Sunland Park and finished third next out in the Feb. 23 Island Fashion Stakes at the same track. Dynasty of Her Own enters the California Oaks off a win in a March 29 allowance race at Golden Gate. 

Ricardo Gonzalez will have the call from post 2. 

Fashion Royalty and Mollie O ' McEvoy complete the field.  

Entries: California Oaks

Golden Gate Fields, Sunday, May 31, 2020, Race 7

• STK
• 1 1/16m
• All Weather Track
• $75,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 3:59 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Reiwa (CA)	William Antongeorgi III	122	Jonathan Wong	8/1
2	2Dynasty of Her Own (KY)	Ricardo Gonzalez	122	Jonathan Wong	5/2
3	3Paige Anne (KY)	Catalino Martinez	122	Simon Callaghan	4/1
4	4Fashion Royalty (GB)	Julien Couton	122	Patrick Gallagher	10/1
5	5Mollie O ' McEvoy (CA)	Kyle Frey	122	William Delia	8/1
6	6Mind Out (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	122	Simon Callaghan	7/2
7	7Eclair (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	122	Bob Baffert	3/1