A Hollywood Headliner on Tap
Halfbridled, the 2-year-old filly champion, may be missing from today’s $250,000 Las Virgenes at Santa Anita, but the Grade I drew a quality group of nine 3-year-old fillies.
Hollywood Story, winner of the Hollywood Starlet in December, and A.P. Adventure, who made a successful stakes debut in the Santa Ysabel on Jan. 4, head the field in the one-mile race, which is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $137,427.
A maiden although she had finished second in the Del Mar Debutante and third in the Oak Leaf Stakes last year, Hollywood Starlet picked the right time to get her first victory. A 6-1 longshot, she won the Starlet, a Grade I, by nearly three lengths over Rahy Dolly, who also is in today’s field.
Owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis and trained by Wally Dollase, A.P. Adventure, who was purchased earlier this year for $425,000, broke her maiden by five lengths in her career debut on Oct. 30, then returned in the Santa Ysabel, a Grade III, to win by 3 1/2 lengths as the 9-10 choice. Alex Solis will ride.
Completing the cast are Wildwood Flower, who was third in the Santa Ysabel, Friendly Michelle, Mme. Espionage, Class Above, Whoopi Cat and Stellar Jayne.
Trained by Bob Baffert for Padua Stables, Class Above will be making her first start since finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 25. The Quiet American miss had won her previous two starts.
Race of the day: Nonsuch Bay, who has won four of seven at Gulfstream Park, is among 10 fillies and mares set to go 1 1/16 miles in the $100,000 Sabin Handicap. Cornelio Velasquez will ride.
One for the road: Colonel Warden makes his U.S. debut for hot trainer Todd Pletcher after winning two of six starts in France. John Velazquez has the mount on the Woodman colt, who will be racing with Lasix for the first time. He gets the call in Gulfstream Park’s 10th, a $36,000 allowance at about 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
Exotically speaking: A pick three using Moscow Burning in the third, Scotchwater, Western Drouilly and General Fox in the fourth and all in the fifth.
Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/111. Money: Previous day/meet total: $3.80/$602. Total money bet: $650.