NEWS
Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita to kickoff with a bang
Posted: Friday, September 16, 2005
The Oak Tree Racing Association begins its 37th season on September 28 at Santa Anita Park, kick-starting a 31-day meeting highlighted by 29 stakes races for cumulative purses of $4,725,000.
The opening weekend at Santa Anita features a medley of stakes races traditionally utilized as major prep races for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, scheduled for October 29 at Belmont Park.
The October 1 opening Saturday card features the $500,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (G2), a 1 1/4-mile turf race for fillies and mares three years old and older that often serves as a springboard to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1); and a traditional Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) prep race in the $500,000 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2), a 1 1/8-mile dirt race for three-year-olds and older.
The $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes (G2), a 1 1/16-mile race for juvenile fillies, also will be contested on Saturday's card.
Sunday's card on opening weekend will feature the $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (G1), a 1 1/4-mile turf race for three-year-olds and older that often is a springboard to the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).
Also on the card is the $200,000 Norfolk Stakes (G2), a 1 1/16-mile race for juveniles that serves as a preview for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1); and traditional Breeders' Cup Distaff prep race the $250,000 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2), a 1 1/16-mile dirt event for fillies and mare three years old and older.
The Oak Tree meeting will offer 13 graded stakes races and run through November 6.
