OAK TREE : Navarone Runs Streak to Five

After a 1 1/4-length victory over Defensive Play and four others in the $400,000 Oak Tree Invitational on Saturday, Navarone will head into the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Oct. 31 riding a five-race winning streak.

What remains to be seen is who will be riding him that afternoon at Gulfstream Park.

Pat Valenzuela has been aboard the 4-year-old Irish River colt in all five of his starts this year, but, because of his contract with owner Allen Paulson, Valenzuela could end up on Fraise, the runner-up to Sky Classic in Belmont Park’s Turf Classic Oct. 3, in the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Navarone’s trainer, Rodney Rash, conceded Saturday he will be looking for a new rider in three weeks, but Valenzuela and his agent, Jeff Franklin, were noncommittal.

When asked about whom he will ride, Valenzuela said to ask Franklin. All Franklin would say was: “There may be something worked out. We’ll know in about three days.�

The way Valenzuela talks about Navarone, who is unbeaten in four starts on turf, he has no desire to give up the mount.

“He’s such a superb racehorse,� Valenzuela said. “I thought at Del Mar that if he had run in the ($1-million Pacific) Classic, he would have won that. He’s just a super horse.�

Content to lay several lengths off the pace being set by Defensive Play, the 2-1 second choice, Navarone, the 11-10 favorite, challenged for the lead in the backstretch, then pulled away in the final sixteenth. He completed the 1 1/2 miles in 2:24 1/5.

“During the race, I saw the :47 half (actually 46 4/5 seconds) when we went by the stands and I knew Defensive Play was just galloping,� Valenzuela said. “That’s practically walking for these horses on this course. So, I knew I had to make an early run, and I knew I had the horse who had the stamina to keep running. I knew if I got head-and-head with him at the quarter-pole, my horse would be the better of the two.�

Daros, the Del Mar Derby winner, was third, three-quarters of a length behind Defensive Play. Then came Myrakalu, El Trenzador and Falling.

*

Those who took 3-5 odds on Zoonaqua in the $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes on Saturday probably didn’t like their chances as she approached the wire.

Turkstand, a 13-1 shot making only her second start, had rallied from far behind to take a narrow lead and looked on her way to staging the third-biggest upset in the Grade I race’s 24-year history.

Racing with Lasix for the first time, the more-experienced Zoonaqua had a little something in reserve and was able to come back and win for the third time in four outings.

Owned by Jerry Moss and trained by Brian Mayberry, the 2-year-old Silver Hawk filly won by a neck in 1:43 4/5 for the 1 1/16 miles. Next up is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 31.

Even if the margin was slim, Mayberry wasn’t disappointed. “She got there first, that’s the main thing,� he said. “I don’t think she’s ever really laid her body down hard. I think she has a lot left in her, and I think she’s an exceptional filly.�

With Eddie Delahoussaye in New York, Chris McCarron rode Zoonaqua for the first time Saturday.

“She ran very game,� he said. “She kind of goofed around a little bit when she hit the front, but she dug right back in again after (Turkstand) hooked her. I sure hope I stay with her for the Breeders’ Cup. (Agent Scotty McClellan) was told that if she ran well for me I could ride her in Florida. I thought she ran well.�

Horse Racing Notes

The entry of Devil Diamond and River Special is 2-5 on the morning line for today’s $200,000 guaranteed Norfolk Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. The only other entrants are Boss Soss, Imperial Ridge and Dr. Bryan. The Norfolk will be run as the sixth race. . . . In the day’s other stakes, Marquetry is the 2-1 choice for the $200,000 added Goodwood Handicap at 1 1/8 miles. Another Review is next at 5-2. Then comes Clarety (7-2), Casual Lies (9-2), Reign Road (6-1) and Sir Beaufort (8-1). Twilight Agenda was scratched Saturday. . . . Medici Bells was scratched from the Oak Leaf after she flipped in the paddock.