Frankel Faces Long Odds in Repeat Bid

If Bobby Frankel is going to win the $750,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park for a second year in a row, the country’s top trainer is going to have to do it with a longshot.

Frankel, who won the inaugural Oaks last year when Megahertz was moved up after the disqualification of Dublino, will be represented by Personal Legend in Saturday’s race, which has drawn a field of 14.

Owned by Ed Gann, the daughter of Awesome Again has a win and a second in two races over turf, both in Kentucky. She will be ridden by Corey Nakatani.

Two trainers -- Bob Baffert and Laura de Seroux -- will have two starters in the Oaks, the first leg of a pick six with a guaranteed $1-million pool.

Baffert will saddle Hollywood Breeders’ Cup Oaks winner Santa Catarina, who has never raced over turf, and Atlantic Ocean, who won the Grade III Miesque over the Hollywood Park turf last year.

Santa Catarina was made the 7-2 favorite by Hollywood Park’s morning-line maker Russ Hudak.

De Seroux, who trains Dublino, will be represented by Golden Nepi and Liska, both of whom will be making their first starts in this country.

Also entered are Fortuitous, Meridiana, Star Vega, Go For Glamour, Dimitrova, Gal O Gal, Welcome Millenium, Sand Springs and Achnasheen.

-- Bob Mieszerski