They’re Strangers to Winner’s Circle

Oak Tree begins its fourth week with a card dominated by maidens.

Half of the eight races on the program are for horses who have never won a race, including the first two of the day.

In the opener, a 51/2-furlong sprint for $32,000 maiden claimers, Instant Karma will be favored as he runs for a tag for the first time. Winless in his 11 previous starts, he should be long gone against this bunch.

In the second, 2-year-old maiden fillies will get together at one mile on the turf. Four of the eight runners have experience on the turf, topped by English invader Westmead Empress, one of two entrants for trainer Bob Hess Jr. A daughter of Emperor Jones, Westmead Empress is winless in three starts on grass. Hess’ other runner is Forty On Line, another English-bred who was fourth in her only start earlier this year at Newmarket.

The likely favorite is Casting Call, a Dynaformer filly who was third in her turf debut on Sept. 3 at Del Mar. She comes from the hot Dave Hofmans barn. The trainer won the Lanes End Breeders’ Futurity with Siphonic earlier this month at Keeneland and this past weekend, his Cindy’s Hero ended a losing streak with a win in the Harold C. Ramser at Santa Anita.

Bring On The Music, a $350,000 yearling purchase and a daughter of top sire Theatrical, will be making her career debut in the race off some solid works for trainer Kathy Walsh.

The other two maiden races are the fifth, a one-mile affair for older fillies and mares, and the eighth, a $50,000 claimer for 3-year-olds and up.

Race of the day: The seventh, a 11/4-mile turf race for older grass specialists, attracted eight runners and contention goes deep. Devon Deputy, who comes from the Bobby Frankel barn, has run four times on the Santa Anita grass and has been second each time. Fade To Blue, Bombard and Motto also look like strong contenders.

Who’s hot: Jack Van Berg. The Hall of Fame trainer had his best day in some time Saturday, winning with Prized Gem, Slewston and Highland Dawn.

Who’s not: Raise A Nature. The 2-year-old Robin des Pins filly, who is entered in today’s second, has beaten a total of six horses in five career starts. Her best effort was a fifth in a six-horse field last month at Fairplex Park.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Instant Karma in the first, using Casting Call, Bring On The Music and Cat Ballado in the second and Lively Liz, Lugu Lake and Multiple Meetings in the third.