The Alys Look Ventures West for Summertime Oaks

Two formidable fillies, both seeking to bounce back off defeats in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), will clash in the June 3 Summertime Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita Park.

Peter Redekop's And Tell Me Nolies , a disappointing 12th in the Run for the Lilies, should return back to form in her California home. The Arrogate filly has finished worse than second only once in six starts in the Golden State (she was fourth in her Del Mar debut last summer). A grade 1 winner at 2, And Tell Me Nolies was runner-up in her two starts this year for trainer Peter Miller before her Oaks venture.

The late-running filly has turned in two works since the Oaks, including a 1:12 3/5 six-furlong move May 27. Regular rider Ramon Vazquez has the call.

Offering a stiff challenge from out east is Oaks third-place finisher The Alys Look . Campaigned by Ike and Dawn Thrash, the Connect   filly stamped herself as a horse to watch all winter when knocking heads against the best in New Orleans prior to her gallant run in the Oaks. Racing five-wide around the final turn and into the lane, The Alys Look kept grinding away to the wire, beaten only 2 3/4 lengths behind the victorious Pretty Mischievous .

Transferred to trainer Chris Davis from the Brad Cox barn, The Alys Look resurfaced on the work tab May 19 with a half-mile drill in :48 4/5 for her new connections at Keeneland.

Davis told BloodHorse on Monday that the $200,000 1 1/16 mile Summertime Oaks was a "favorable spot" for his filly to snare another black-type victory with Pretty Mischievous bound for the lucrative Acorn Stakes (G1) June 9.

In a race not overly filled with speed, The Alys Look, breaking from post 1, could potentially find herself on the front end if she reverts back to her race in the Silverbulletday Stakes, where she pressured the early pace before taking command at the half-mile pole. Ridden by Mike Smith for the first time on Saturday, she has been positioned further back in her last two starts.

An intriguing up-and-comer set to square off against the Kentucky Oaks contenders is Hronis Racing's Anywho . One of two entries for trainer John Sadler, who also saddles Boardshorts Stables' Ancient Peace , Anywho was a handy winner of a seven-furlong allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita March 27. Shipped to Kentucky for the Eight Belles Stakes (G2) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard, the daughter of Bolt d'Oro   spiked a temperature soon after arriving at Churchill Downs and was forced to scratch in addition to missing several days of training.

"…since returning (to California) she’s been right on schedule,” Sadler said of Anywho. “She’s really been working well and I like the draw for her first time going two turns. Being on the outside should allow her to stay in the clear.

“(Anywho) was really impressive going seven-eighths,” Sadler said. "(She) got a good Ragozin number, so we’re really excited about her and what she can do on Saturday.”