Javanica, second in her last four races, all stakes and all on either synthetic surfaces or turf, steps up in company and tries dirt for the first time in Saturday's Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks at a mile and a sixteenth on the main track.
Eoin Harty feels she deserves the chance.
“This will be her first time on dirt but she works great on it,” the trainer said.
“She doesn't seem to mind the kickback. She ran against colts last time out and just got beat by a good horse,” alluding to a game neck loss despite a four-wide trip on Feb. 13 to Triple Crown candidate Rombauer in the El Camino Real Derby.
Javanica is a bay daughter of Medaglia d'Oro owned and bred by Godolphin LLC, for whom the 58-year-old Harty has been training just over two decades. The native of Ireland has engaged Mike Smith to ride in the Oaks, which Smith won last year on champion Swiss Skydiver.
The Hall of Fame rider also won the Oaks on two other champions, Midnight Bisou in 2018 and Songbird in 2016.
Javanica is not one to carry her track around with her, having raced at Arlington Park, Woodbine, Del Mar, Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields in her six starts.
“She's been everywhere,” Harty said.
The Oaks, race six: Moraz, Juan Hernandez, 8-5; Brilliant Cut, Abel Cedillo, 8-1; Soothsay, Flavien Prat, 6-1; Javanica, Mike Smith, 5-2; and Beautiful Gift, John Velazquez, 9-5.
The post After Game Second Against Males, Javanica Picks Up Mike Smith For Santa Anita Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
