This year's edition of the G2 Hollywood Oaks draws a field of 8 closely matched fillies including the highly regarded #1 Wila B Awesome, winner of the G1 Santa Anita Oaks and certainly the one to beat here with a super impressive work to boot that says she is ready. She'll sit second behind likely pace setter #4 Eden's Moon, a filly that does her best running on the lead...something she didn't get in the Kentucky Oaks as she took up on the first turn and then never picked it up from there. #6 Potesta will be trying to do what Eden's Moon did...make the jump from a blow away maiden win to a victory in a Graded Stakes race. Mike Mitchell may have a special one in this filly as she won for fun last out and relishes both the route distance and the Hollywood surface. Don't let that running line in her last race fool you. This is not a pace type. Look for a mid-pack position and then an explosive turn of foot late. I usually avoid fillies taking a big jump like this, but she looks capable of pulling off the upset and is my top pick. Of the Hollendorfer pair, most prefer #8 Killer Graces due to that impressive 5 for 5 in-the-$ record on the Hollywood surface. However, I believe #7 Villa Villaggio is the filly that will impress today. She'll secure a cozy stalking position on a surface that is to her liking. Third off the layoff and ascending speed figures supports a probable new lifetime top today. Very dangerous with these and likely to produce some value. #5 Open Water may be the longest on the board but look for a sharp finish with a decent shot to complete the exacta at a price. Layoff is not a concern.
The wager:
$25 Exacta 6 with 1,7
$10 Exacta 6 with 4,5
$1 Trifecta 1,4,7 with 6 with All