Santa Anita Oaks 2024 | Santa Anita Park Picks [Kentucky Oaks]

Kinza, a perfect 3-for-3 with two graded stakes wins for trainer Bob Baffert, will look to add to her growing resume as the likely heavy favorite in Saturday’s GII, $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita Park.

With 12 races Saturday, including five stakes, first post time is 12 p.m. Admission gates open at 10 a.m.

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Owned by Michael Lund Petersen, Kinza’s three wins have come by a combined 14 ½ lengths. The Carpe Diem filly won her debut by 7 ½ lengths when going six furlongs at Santa Anita Dec. 29, then came right back take the GIII Las Virgenes here when stretched to a mile Feb. 10. Her win in the Las Virgenes came by two lengths over runner-up Kopion, who also returns in the Santa Anita Oaks.

Most recently, Kinza aired by five lengths when going gate to wire in the GIII Santa Ysabel at 1 1/16 March 9. A $350,000 auction buy last year, Kinza has banked $159,000 in her young career. Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez, who has been aboard for all three previous wins, again has the call on Saturday.

Kopion looks to get back on the beam after suffering her first defeat to Kinza in the Las Virgenes, which was her first time navigating two turns. Prior to that effort, the Omaha Beach filly won her debut going 6 ½ furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 26 and then romped by 5 ¾ lengths in the GIII Santa Ynez going seven furlongs here Jan. 7.

Kopion, who has banked $116,600, is trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella and owned by Spendthrift Farm. She was purchased for $270,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale. Kopion will have a new rider Saturday. Replacing Flavien Prat, who was aboard for all three prior starts, is Hall of Famer Mike Smith.

Also looming for Baffert is Nothing Like You. In the Las Virgenes last out, she finished fourth, and was beaten 12 ¾ lengths by Kinza. Prior to that effort, the Malibu Moon filly won both the GII Starlet going 1 1/16 miles at Los Alamitos Dec. 9 and the Desi Arnaz going seven furlongs at Del Mar in November.

Owned by Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio and John L. Rogitz, Nothing Like You is 3-1-0 with $243,160 earned in 7 starts. She will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who was aboard in the Las Virgenes.