A Big Day for ‘Catomine

If Sweet Catomine does what is expected and wins the $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks today in Arcadia, it might be the last time the 3-year-old daughter of Storm Cat runs against her own sex.

Owned by breeders Pam and Marty Wygod and trained by Julio Canani, Sweet Catomine will be odds-on to win for the fifth time in six starts in the Oaks, a Grade I at 1 1/16 miles. The race is part of a pick six carry-over of $500,473.

Almost certainly the next race on her agenda would be the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 9 against males. And if Sweet Catomine were to become the first female to win it since Winning Colors in 1988, the logical destination would be Churchill Downs, not for the Kentucky Oaks, but the Kentucky Derby, a race Winning Colors also won.

Successful in her last four races after finishing second in her sprint debut July 31 at Del Mar, Sweet Catomine will break from the rail in the Oaks.

The filly who would seem most capable of an upset is Cream Donut Keith. The Lion Hearted filly is two for two, including a five-length win in her Santa Anita debut for owner J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill on Feb. 3.

Race of the day: Big Booster, who has won all three of his races on the Gulfstream Park turf course, will try for his third win of the current meet in today’s $100,000 Canadian Turf Handicap. Joe Bravo will ride the 4-year-old Accelerator colt in the 1 1/16 -mile race.

One for the road: Stellianos is a fan of Aqueduct’s inner track and can win for the eighth time in 20 starts over the surface in today’s eighth. Apprentice Eriluis Vaz, who has been aboard for the 7-year-old gelding’s last five wins, will ride in the $48,000 optional claimer at a mile and 70 yards.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Skukuza, National Park, Bluesthestandard and Skipaslew in the seventh, Florida Keys and Fabulous Groom in the eighth, Sweet Catomine in the ninth and Vicar’s Belle, Sweet Kendall Jo and Hilsey in the 10th.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/138. Money: Previous day/meet total: $18.80/$750.40. Total money bet: $976.