How to bet the 2022 Summertime Oaks

A well-matched and talented field of seven three-year-old fillies will vie in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita on Sunday. The feature will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the main surface and attracted numerous legitimate contenders in a cast with a lot of nice prospects.

I have been impressed with the twice-raced #2 Ganadora (4-1) to this stage of her development and will take a shot with her making her two-turn debut. A sharp maiden romper on debut in February, the $1 million yearling buy showed a lot of heart in her second start when collaring a clear leader late on the oval in a game allowance coup. The bay daughter of Quality Road has finished with energy in both of her lifetime tries to date to indicate that added ground will be to her liking, and she is bred to route, as well.

Ganadora looks to me like the inside pace of the race, and if Abel Cedillo gets the Kentucky-bred to clear the field early on, then I envision her being very difficult to pass in the stretch at a decent price. The bay has been training in swift fashion in anticipation of her stakes bow, too.

#1 Desert Dawn (5-2) is the one to beat for conditioner Phil D’Amato. The daughter of Cupid is in the best form of her career following a triumph in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) two back, which preceded a fantastic third in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs last time out. The Arizona-bred is coming up to the race in strong fashion, as well, after posting a bullet six-furlong move in her most recent morning drill. Umberto Rispoli will guide the late runner.

Santa Ynez S. (G2) queen #6 Under the Stars (3-1) missed the break when failing to fire her best shot in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) in her latest endeavor, but the Pioneerof the Nile filly was too consistently good prior to that showing to dismiss on this occasion. The well-bred bay comes in fresh off of some solid morning works, and she has the early presence to be a forwardly placed factor from the opening bell on Sunday, as well. Juan Hernandez opts to ride this lass, which has to be viewed as a positive.

Summertime Oaks Wagers

• $25 win: #2 Ganadora ($25)
• $4 exacta key box: 2 with 1,6 ($16)
• $2 trifecta box: 1,2,6 ($12)