Grade 1 Oak Leaf Stakes.
1 1/16 miles, 2 YO Fillies, Oak Tree at Santa Anita
While the pre-race buzz was focused on Bob Baffert’s Grade 1 winning Point Ashley, the post race accolades belonged to Cash Included, the dominating winner of Santa Anita’s Grade 1 Oak Leaf S. Carrying equal weight, Cash Included and Point Ashley had run away from the rest of the top class Grade 1 field by the top of the stretch, but as Point Ashley labored home, Cash Included widened her advantage with every step, winning in the end by a geared down 4 3/4 lengths. It was a breakthrough performance for the daughter of Include, who had been purchased privately by J. Paul Reddam after breaking her maiden impressively in her previous start at Del Mar. Well prepared by previous trainer Howard Zucker and new conditioner Craig Dollase, Cash Included has stamped herself as arguably the favorite for the upcoming G1 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs. Her victory also cemented her sire Include as a truly elite first crop sire, as she represents her sire’s second Grade 1 filly as well as his second stakes winner while putting his juvenile earnings over the $500,000 mark. This is truly remarkable for a stallion who’s offspring were anticipated to peak around two turns and give every indication that they will only improve with age and added distance…truly, Include has the brightest of futures!
An Airdrie Stud homebred, Airdire would like to congratulate Cash Included’s yearling purchaser Wavecrest, 2 y o purchaser and former trainer Howard Zucker, owner J. Paul Reddam, trainer Craig Dollase and winning jockey Corey Nakatani!
