Oak Tree Starts Today

After an absence of three weeks, real thoroughbred racing returns to Southern California with the start of Oak Tree’s 32-day meet this afternoon.

Several stars will be in action, especially during the next couple of weeks, as horses have their final preps for the Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 27 at Belmont Park.

None of those stars will be visible today, but the nine-race program does feature an interesting $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Handicap at about 61/2 furlongs on the turf.

Formerly called the Autumn Days, the Maddy is scheduled to have 11 starters after the scratch Tuesday morning of Notable Career. The contenders include Blue Moon, a comebacking, French-bred filly who was good enough to finish second in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth Cup nearly a year ago at Keeneland, Serenita, a speedy filly trained by Bobby Frankel, Global, who has won four of six since being claimed for $50,000 by trainer Jack Carava on Feb. 16, and Chichim, who has won twice down Santa Anita’s hillside course and who gave jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. his 9,000th career victory last Oct. 28 in the California Cup Distaff.

The Maddy is also one of three grass races on today’s card and turf horses have been on vacation since the Del Mar ended Sept. 5.

Race of the day: The final race on the program is probably the most interesting one on the card. It is a mile turf affair that attracted 11 runners. Decarchy, a half-brother to Chester House and Honest Lady, was extremely impressive in his American debut for Frankel and is a threat right back at the same distance. A strong case can also be made for Good Journey, who has won two of four in this country for Wally Dollase and who has trained well for his first start since Jan. 6. The contention does not stop there, however, as several others are proven over the course, including Meet Me In Dixie, Eye Pea Oh and Riverside.

Who’s hot: Martin Pedroza. The jockey quietly has had a solid year and is fresh off his third title at Fairplex. He has a record 322 victories in Pomona.

Who’s not: The field in today’s sixth race. The 12 fillies and mares a combined 0 for 47, topped by Dini Dee’s 0 for 17 ledger.

Exotically speaking: A pick four singling Nice Fish in the sixth, using Blue Moon, Serenita, Nany’s Sweep, Global and Chichim in the seventh, Pool Music and Kolob in the eighth and Decarchy and Good Journey in the ninth.