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Tonalist’s Shape headlines the CCA Oaks

Tonalist’s Shape headlines the CCA Oaks
By New York Hot List Staff // Friday, July 17


The Coaching Club American Oaks is one of those stakes that never grows old. It has an illustrious array of past winners from decades ago such as Shuvee, Dark Mirage, Mom’s Command, Davona Dale and Ruffian. Recently, the winners haven’t been too shabby, either, with Guarana, Monomoy Girl and Songbird reaching the winner’s circle. As for this year, with a bunch of stakes for 3-year-old fillies grouped within a few weeks of each other, the CCA Oaks came up a tad weak on experience. Tonalist’s Shape stands as the lone graded stakes winner in a field of six. But there are several promising yet relatively untested 3-year-olds fillies, including one trained by Bob Baffert, who could push her and perhaps pull off an upset in one of New York’s most storied stakes.

Here’s the Hot List picks for the Coaching Club American Oaks:

The $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), Saratoga, Saturday, Race 10

(6) Paris Lights won her last two starts at Churchill Downs for Bill Mott whose barn is very hot right now. She won an allowance race going two turns in which she beat a filly who came back to win her next start. The daughter of Curlin should appreciate the added distance and will get a positive set-up to come from off the pace. (3) Altaf switched from turf to dirt by Chad Brown and she ran off to a five-length victory in a maiden special weight at Churchill. The home-bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro is well suited to the nine-furlongs. (5) Crystal Ball was a six-length front running winner of her maiden race at Santa Anita in her last race for Bob Baffert. The $750,000 yearling purchase ships east to try and win a Grade 1 in New York. Baffert has had plenty of success with this kind of move. (1) Tonalist’s Shape is the winner of six of her seven career starts all of them in Florida. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. adds blinkers for the first time and she just had a blazing three-furlong work in :34 at Saratoga. Breaking from the rail she is likely to be out on the lead right out of the gate.

Full card picks and analysis for Saturday at Saratoga from the New York Hot List team are available free of charge at this website.