McCarron and McAnally Keep It Going

Unable to win a graded race in her previous four tries in the United States, Victory Stripes changed that in the $147,000 Hawthorne Handicap on Sunday at Hollywood Park.

Given this was the Hawthorne, a Grade II, it helped that the 5-year-old, Argentine-bred mare had jockey Chris McCarron and trainer Ron McAnally on her side.

McCarron has now won the first prep for the $500,000 Vanity Handicap later in the meet three consecutive years and four of the last five, and McAnally owns a record five wins in the race.

With Gourmet Girl a late scratch, Magical Allure looked to have everything in her favor for a gate-to-wire victory, but Victory Stripes, the 3-1 third choice in the field of four, took the early lead, then fought back after being headed by the even-money choice and won by a half-length in 1:41 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

A winner of her first six starts, Magical Allure was beaten for the fifth time in six races since, but did beat the rest of the field by nine lengths. Housa Dancer was third, a dozen lengths in front of 19-10 second choice Keeper Hill.

Making her first appearance since third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff behind Escena and Banshee Breeze last Nov. 6, Keeper Hill, whose biggest win last year came in the Kentucky Oaks, didn’t run a step and was virtually eased through the stretch by jockey David Flores.

“She never picked up the bridle and never gave any intention to run at all,” he said of the Deputy Minister filly, owned by Dr. John Chandler and trained by Bobby Frankel.

“I put her in a spot where I thought she was comfortable, but today she was just weak, just like she didn’t want to be there. It wasn’t like any of her works at all. She was making little noises too, like she was breathing kind of funny.”

Everything was just fine with Victory Stripes, who has now won five of 11 since coming to this country for owner Sid Craig.

“I told Chris in the paddock, ‘If she goes to the lead, don’t worry about it, she’s been in front before,’ ” he said. “It worked out today. She looks better and she’s eating better, which is important with her.”

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Tuzla, a 6-1 shot and the lone female in a field of 10, rallied widest of all under jockey Brice Blanc and gave trainer Julio Canani his third career win in the $300,000 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields.

Owned by David Milch, the 5-year-old, French-bred mare won for the 10th time in 17 lifetime starts and has now won six of her last seven. She completed the distance in 1:35 2/5. Canani’s other victories in the San Francisco Mile came with Patchy Groundfog and Colway Rally.

Making his first appearance since Nov. 28, Poteen was second, just ahead of Rob’n Gin, and Canani’s other entrant, Silic, was a fast-closing fourth. Lord Smith, the favorite seeking his fifth consecutive win, was eighth.