Untested Turf Fillies Battle it Out in $200,000 Cal Cup Oaks

The California Oaks, a one mile grass race for three year-old fillies, has drawn a field of eight led by 2/1 morning line favorite Heat the Rocks.  Heat the Rocks, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, won one of four starts as a two year-old with two second place finishes, including a narrow loss in the $200,000 Soviet Problem Stakes December 7 at Los Alamitos on dirt.  While unraced on turf, Heat the Rocks is well-bred for the surface switch as a daughter of Unusual Heat out of a Tribal Rule mare.  Hollendorfer connects with 18% of his first-time turf runners and 14% dirt to turf. 

Pleasure and Light could both move forward

5/2 co-second choices Sheer Pleasure and Light One are both lightly-raced fillies, who will also be racing on turf for the first time.   Sheer Pleasure, trained by Phillip D’Amato, broke her maiden with aplomb in a six furlong dirt race at Los Alamitos December 19.  Light One, another Jerry Hollendorfer trainee, broke her maiden sprinting on the synthetic surface at Golden Gate in start number two.  The California Sunshine Millions will mark her first race for Hollendorfer after racing previously for James Greg. 

Second grass attempt for Singing Kitty

Singing Kitty (5/1) has a turf race under her belt, finishing seventh in a stakes race at Santa Anita New Year’s Day.  The Matthew Chew trainee could move forward with the experience.