Tenma Heads Baffert Quartet in Oak Leaf

Bob Baffert has won the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2), formerly known as the Chandelier, an unprecedented 12 times. The Hall of Fame trainer will saddle half the field of eight in this year's edition Oct. 5, headed by Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) heroine Tenma .

Charles and Susan Chu of Baoma, the owners of Tenma, had landed the Oak Leaf in 2019 with the Baffert-trained Bast . Like Tenma, Bast had entered the 1 1/16-mile contest off a victory in the Del Mar Debutante. Bast went on to finish third in that year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), which undoubtedly will be the next target for Tenma if she delivers another sparkling performance in Saturday's $200,000 affair

The Oak Leaf, held at Santa Anita Park, is a Breeder' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event and offers the race winner an all-expenses-paid guaranteed entry into the Nov. 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. In addition to the Breeders' Cup berth, the race also awards Kentucky Oaks (G1) points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five finishers as part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series.

An $850,000 2-year-old acquisition, Tenma has displayed grit in her two starts so far—closing gamely to win her August debut before catching the more experienced Vodka With a Twist  at the wire in the Del Mar Debutante. A daughter of Nyquist   and out of a Tapit   mare, the more distance the better would appear ideal for the late-running Tenma.

Kazushi Kimura retains the mount.

Only Jack's Magic Girl  (fourth) and Tenma's stablemate Nooni  (fifth) from the Del Mar Debutante are reopposing the likely favorite on Saturday.

Zedan Racing Stables' Nooni set the racing world on fire with her explosive debut score June 13. The $1.8 million Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training topper then blazed to another front-running win in Del Mar's Sorrento Stakes (G3). Stretching out to seven furlongs in the Del Mar Debutante, the Win Win Win   filly battled on the front end early before fading down the lane.

Martin Garcia replaces Juan Hernandez on Nooni, who will instead pilot recent debut scorer Non Compliant  for Baffert. The daughter of Tiz the Law   netted a 96 Equibase Speed Figure for the six-furlong maiden special weight win.

Showers , a five-length maiden winner Aug. 25 going a mile at Del Mar, is the last of the Baffert quartet. Antonio Fresu will ride the Ghostzapper   filly, a $240,000 purchase for Sarah Kelly and William Strauss at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Sweet azteca goes for fifth straight in Chillingworth Stakes

While it is up for debate in the rest of the country who is the top female in the sprinting division, there is no question that Sweet Azteca  reigns supreme over her rivals on the West Coast. The Pamela Ziebarth-owned filly has been sensational in her last four starts this year, highlighted by a grade 1 score in the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) and a scintillating five-length victory in the Great Lady M Stakes (G2).

Trained by Michael McCarthy, the daughter of Sharp Azteca  will look to continue her winning ways against six other fillies and mares in the $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes (G3). The 6 1/2-furlong event is not a "Win and You're In" race, but will serve as a useful prep ahead of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) next month.

"I had given it some thought, to wait for the Breeders' Cup," McCarthy said. "But I felt it might be better to let her go ahead and run rather than watch her work in :58 and change, :59 and change week after week.

"I'm expecting the same kind of race we've seen from her in the last couple."

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Sweet Azteca will tote the high weight of 126 pounds in the Chillingworth.

One of the biggest threats in the field could come from the Baffert-trained Hope Road . The 3-year-old Quality Road   filly has won her last three outings by a combined 15 3/4 lengths for Cicero Farms, including a last-out triumph in the one-mile Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) at Del Mar.