Pure Clan, Carribean Sunset Ready For American Oaks Kentucky shipper Pure Clan and Irish invader Carribean Sunset, the morning-line favorites for the $750,000 American Oaks on turf Saturday, exercised on Cushion Track Friday at Hollywood Park.

"She's eating well and had a little two-minute lick this morning," said Bob Holthus, trainer of Pure Clan, after watching the 3-year-old filly blow out three furlongs under exercise rider Steve Schmelzel before getting his license.

"I've been training 56 years, and this is the first horse I've had in California," said septuagenarian Holthus, a long-time fixture in Kentucky.

Standing on the stable kitchen porch overlooking the backstretch with breeder and co-owner Lewis Lakin, Holthus hoped the filly would justify her morning line favoritism (7-2).

"She's been very consistent and can go either way," said Holthus of the chestnut filly, a graded stakes winner on dirt and turf. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Pure Prize is unbeaten in three grass starts and has recorded two firsts, one second and two thirds on dirt. Her only defeats have been to Eight Belles and Proud Spell, including a third-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks.

"Mr. Lakin feels she's a better turf horse," Holthus said of the stretch-running filly. "Her action suits turf racing."

Holthus considered the 12-horse lineup deep and contentious. "I don't think there will be a short-priced favorite," he said. "I think three or four will be close (in the betting). It's a very competitive race.

"I don't think she has run on a turf course this firm before. She comes from off the pace, so I hope some others try to go for the lead. I expect to see her five or six lengths off the lead. We were fortunate with the draw to get the rail. We have the shortest trip home. Ideally, I would like to see her save some ground and get out when she wants to run."

Lakin explained that he owns 49 per cent of the horse after selling 46 per cent to IEAH Stables after her fourth win last year and five per cent to Pegasus Holding.

"This is the best filly I've had in the 12 years I've been in the business," said Lakin, who lives in Chicago and owns Lakland Farm in Kentucky. "Pure Clan's mare (Gather The Clan) gave us Greater Good, a Grade II winner who ran in the Kentucky Derby."

Pure Clan, winner of the Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs June 14, was flown here Monday from Louisville.

Her journey would be considered short compared to that of Carribean Sunset, who got her first look at the track Friday after clearing quarantine Thursday following a flight from Europe on Tuesday.

"She trotted one circuit and cantered one circuit," said Bobby Dolan, head traveling lad for trainer Dermot Weld. "That's all she needed. She's very fit."

Carribean Sunset made her last start in the Group I Coronation Stakes at Ascot in England June 20 and finished third. "We took her back to Ireland after the race," said Dolan. "Then to start the trip here, we shipped her to France. She cantered there at Lamorlaye before a seven-hour drive to Amsterdam and a 10˝-hour flight here to LAX.

"That was always the plan: two gallops before this race," said Dolan after Carribean Sunset completed the second. "She has been eating and drinking regularly."

Dolan drew parallels between Carribean Sunset and Dimitrova, another Irish invader who won the 2003 American Oaks for Weld. "They both ran well in the Irish Guineas, although Carribean Sunset might be a little bigger," said Dolan. "This one took one step forward in the Coronation. She was fourth and fifth throughout and finished strong and was perhaps a bit unlucky not to be second."

Carribean Sunset, an Irish-bred filly by Danehill Dancer out of the Royal Academy mare Bonheur, won two Group 3 races in Ireland this spring, the Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial and the Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial.

Weld is no stranger to success here. Dolan accompanied Grey Swallow when Weld shipped him to win the 2006 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap on the turf. He also won The Matriarch with Dress To Thrill in 2002 under Patrick Smullen, who has the call on Carribean Sunset, whom he has ridden in six of her nine starts. Weld will be here to saddle the filly.

Two other European entrants who also cleared quarantine Thursday were also on the main track for the first time. French shipper Satan's Circus jogged with Bertrand LaCroix, head traveling lad for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. English shipper Zaskar exercised with Michaela Sowerdy for trainer Tom Dascombe.

FINISH LINES - Jockey Tyler Baze has theft on the agenda for a second straight week in a $750,000 stake. One week after going wire-to-wire with longshot Mast Track in the Hollywood Gold Cup for the richest victory of his career, the 25-year-old rider figures to set the pace in the $750,000 CashCall Mile with La Tee. "I think they will leave us alone early," said trainer Mark Glatt, hoping to spring an upset. Trainer Bobby Frankel, who put Baze on Mast Track, will try to catch La Tee with morning-line favorite Ventura…Jockey Garrett Gomez, here Saturday from New York, will return July 12 to ride Santa Anita Derby winner Colonel John in the $350,000 Swaps Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles. Also nominated are Behindatthebar, Two Step Salsa, Madeo, Clever's Trevor, Dixie Chatter, Tres Borrachos, Nownownow, Harlene, Bingham and Coronel Moldes…Ron Anderson, agent for Gomez, said the jockey would fly to Delaware July 13 to ride Hystericalady for Jerry Hollendorfer in the $1-million Delaware Handicap before returning to California for the rest of the year to ride the Del Mar, Oak Tree and Hollywood Park Autumn meets. Gomez had remained in New York for the Saratoga and Belmont fall meets the two previous years. The Breeders' Cup is at Oak Tree this year, and Gomez's family lives nearby…Round Table Handicap winner Cedar Mountain and Dallas Turf Cup winner Church Service head a list of ten nominated to the $150,000-added Sunset Handicap, closing-day feature at 1˝ miles on turf July 13. Also nominated are Booyah, Boule d'Or, Fitz Flag, Marsh Side, Porfido, Storm Trooper and Transduction Gold…Trainer Eric Guillot, who won the Hollywood Juvenile Championship last year with Southern Equine Stable's Salute the Sarge, scratched Nochangenweather, a Southern Equine maiden, from the race Saturday. Guillot plans to ship Salute the Sarge to Calder July 12 for the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes and recently acquired Santa Teresita to Delaware Park July 13 for the Delaware Handicap…Lava Man, three-time winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup from 2005-2007, worked four furlongs in :49.40 breezing for trainer Doug O'Neill in his first drill since a third-place finish in the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap June 7...Awesome Gem, another leading handicap horse, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 on the comeback trail for Craig Dollase…Monzante, runner-up in the Whittingham, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 for Mike Mitchell for the Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar July 20.