S.A. Oaks Winner Heads East for New York Campaign courtesy NYRA

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Turbulent Descent, impressive winner of Saturday’s Santa Anita Oaks at Santa Anita Park, will aim for a Grade 1 summer campaign in New York including the Betfair TVG Acorn on Belmont Stakes Day, June 11, and the Test at Saratoga Race Course on August 6, according to trainer Mike Puype.

“She definitely has the Acorn and Test as two of her highest priorities this year,” said Puype, who expects to firm up the filly’s plans with Scott Sherwood of Blinkers On Racing Stable. “Those are career-making races both for winning an Eclipse award, and for a broodmare.”

A 3-year-old daughter of Congrats, Turbulent Descent was undefeated as a juvenile, winning three races including the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet at Hollywood Park. In her first start of 2011, she ran second after a troubled trip in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes at Santa Anita, before her victory in the Grade 1 Oaks yesterday.

Despite being two-for-two at 1 1/16 miles, Puype is convinced the filly is better going shorter distances of ground, which is one reason why the one-turn, one-mile Acorn and the seven-furlong Test are on her agenda.

“I have no doubt that she will be better going shorter,” said Puype, who plans to give her one start before the Acorn. “She has a brilliant amount of acceleration, and is best going seven furlongs or a one-turn mile with a target to run behind.”

Puype, who added that he wants to give her plenty of time to train at Belmont before the Acorn, said that he has only trained one horse that participated in a graded stake in New York, Lord Grillo, who finished fifth in the 1999 Metropolitan Handicap.

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