Exotics Plays for the 2023 American Oaks

A total of seven sophomore fillies will travel 1 1/4 miles on the Santa Anita lawn in Tuesday’s $300,000 American Oaks (G1). Leading the cast is Leonard Powell’s #2 Anisette, who has been first or second in each of her very good starts since coming to the U.S. 

American Oaks Exotics

• $30 exacta 2 with 6 ($30)
• $10 trifecta 2 with 6 with 3 ($10)
• $2 superfecta 2 with 6 with 3 with all ($8)
• $2 superfecta 2 with 6 with all with 3 ($8)
• $2 superfecta 2 with 3 with 6 with all ($8)

By Awtaad, the stout late runner bagged the San Clemente S. (G2) in going-away style in her second stateside appearance, and the dark bay followed that up with a commanding score in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) at today’s distance. She was a smart runner-up to a really nice one in the Rodeo Drive (G2) against her elders on this surface in October, which preceded a second behind a front-running winner in the Autumn Miss S. (G3) at one mile last time out. 

While there is some concern that the pace of the American Oaks could be pedestrian, I still feel that Anisette is clearly the best runner in the field and will be a major force with something close to her top performance. Umberto Rispoli will be in the silks once again. 

I can’t find much separation with the rest of the field except for the stakes-winning #6 Be Your Best, who seems likely to fill out the exacta spot in the affair. The Horacio de Paz pupil is winless since going 2-for-2 to begin her career as a juvenile, but the bay has posted some solid results this campaign led by a second in the Del Mar Oaks behind the top selection. By Muhaarar, the Irish-bred has a useful prep for the race when beaten by less than two lengths in the Twilight Derby (G2) against the boys most recently, and she deserves a long look while making her second try at 10 panels. 

Be Your Best comes in fresh with four morning moves at this locale, and she has the tactical foot to get first run on the selection turning for home, as well. Irad Ortiz Jr. inherits the ride atop the top-two contender. 

#3 Grace Period, the second of the Powell duo in the cast, takes a major jump from being fifth in a first-level allowance tilt to the Grade 1 ranks, but there is reason for optimism with the French-bred. The gray daughter of Creative Cause makes her third run off the shelf and stretches out from a pair of one-mile tilts since arriving to the states, and I expect her to prosper with more ground. The filly has displayed a measure of tactical speed and could find herself closer to the pace than expected due to the lack of early foot in the contest. I’ll tab her in the lower rungs of the gimmicks with Jose Lezcano in the controls.