Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) queen Fiftyshadesofhay looks to be the one to beat when leading the cast in Saturday’s $150,000 Hollywood Oaks (G2). Trained and owned by Bob Baffert, the consistently good daughter of Pulpit was all heart late in winning at Pimlico and has trained fast since, hiting she may be up for another top performance. The bay broker her maiden on the Cushion Track in her only local outing and will be tough with her best.
Three-time stakes winner Unusual Way led at every call in a grassy stakes race at Golden Gate most recently, and the California-bred sophomore could be dangerous in this one. The Jeff Bonde has speed and has won or placed in three of her five local tries. The streaking Ondine has looked the part in two straight wins, the latest on this main oval, and this Baffert pupil has a lot of upside. The dark bay daughter of Medaglia d’Oro is improving and could run all day. Railbird S. vixen Iotapa, Jerry Hollendorfer’s multiple stakes winning Doinghardtimeagain and Railbird runner-up Ciao Bella Luna, add to the depth of this field.
Sophomores will travel a mile on the turf in the Sunday feature at Hollywood Park, the $70,000 Tsunami Slew S.