Guarana the One to Beat in Saratoga's CCA Oaks
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Guarana wins the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park
Three Chimneys Farm's homebred Guarana has a short record of only two starts going into the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) July 20 at Saratoga Race Course, but the Ghostzapper filly will be the one to beat.
In only her second start June 8, Guarana bested the speedy Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress by six lengths in the one-mile Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, setting a stakes record of 1:33.58.
Jockey Jose Ortiz, who has the call in the CCA, rode Serengeti Empress in the Kentucky Oaks but hopped off to stay with Guarana. Ortiz piloted the bay filly, a granddaughter of Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Pleasant Home, to a 14 3/4-length romp on a sloppy Keeneland surface in her April 19 debut.
Saturday will be Guarana's first time racing 1 1/8 miles, but Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Stetson Racing's Point of Honor already has a victory at the distance.
George Weaver-trained Point of Honor impressed last out at Pimlico Race Course in the May 17 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2). The Curlin filly rallied from seventh, turned four wide, and got up by half a length, stopping the clock in 1:47.88.
Point of Honor won her first two starts—an off-the-turf maiden special weight Dec. 16 at Gulfstream Park and the Feb. 9 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs—before running fourth in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) March 30.
Javier Castellano will ride Point of Honor for the fourth straight time.
The CCA marks the first start since the Kentucky Oaks for Champagne Anyone, who defeated Dunbar Road in the 1 1/16-mile Gulfstream Park Oaks.
Campaigned by Randall Bloch, Six Column Stables, Fred Merritt, John Seiler, Stephen Harner, Gene Rice, and Jack Porter Jr., Champagne Anyone was in tight at the start of the May 3 Kentucky Oaks, dropped back to 12th, and rallied down Churchill Downs' straight for a fourth-place finish.
Trainer Ian Wilkes said he expected more speed in the Kentucky Oaks, where Serengeti Empress set a moderate pace to lead every step.
"That always happens when you read the form and all the speed is in the race, and then they all stay there and look at each other," Wilkes said. "Kudos to (Serengeti Empress), she took advantage of it. She made the running and won. My filly got shuffled back a little further than she should've been, but I was happy with the way she finished."
Chris Landeros, who has been aboard Champagne Anyone for all eight starts, retains the mount.
Completing the field are William Pape's Boxwood, winner of the Ginger Brew Stakes Jan. 5 on Gulfstream's turf, and Paul Pompa Jr.'s Off Topic, who was third in the April 6 Gazelle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack and came back to run fifth in the Black-Eyed Susan.
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, July 20, 2019, Race 3Entries: Coaching Club American Oaks (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
Guarana (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
121
Chad C. Brown
-
2
Champagne Anyone (KY)
Chris Landeros
121
Ian R. Wilkes
-
3
Boxwood (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
121
Eddie Kenneally
-
4
Off Topic (KY)
Manuel Franco
121
Todd A. Pletcher
-
5
Point of Honor (KY)
Javier Castellano
121
George Weaver
-
