2/12/05
Last updated: 2/11/05 8:36 PM
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Star Parade (outside) posted a close decision in the Santa Maria last year
(Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com) |
STAR PARADE (Arg) (Parade Marshal) will make her six-year-old bow off a
six-month layoff in Sunday’s $250,000 Santa Maria H. (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
The Darrell Vienna trainee scored in the 1 1/16-mile test last year by a head
prior to taking the Milady Breeders’ Cup H. (G1) in the summer. She hasn’t
been seen in competition since a fourth-place finish in the Clement L. Hirsch H.
(G2) at Del Mar.
Star Parade will share highweight duties of 118 pounds for the Santa Maria
with MUSICAL CHIMES (In Excess [Ire]). Also returning off a break, the Neil
Drysdale-trained dark bay captured the John C. Mabee H. (G1) last season and
then took on the boys in the Oak Tree Breeders’ Cup Mile (G2). In that one, she
posted a nose victory, defeating eventual Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) victor
Singletary (Sultry Song) in the process. Musical Chimes then tried the Breeders’
Cup Mile, running sixth by only 3 1/4 lengths, before
filling that same position while making her final start as a four-year-old in
the Matriarch S. (G1).
Dahlia H. (G3) winner FESTIVAL (Jpn) (Assatis) will lead the 10-horse post
parade under a 113-pound impost, including jockey Danny Sorenson. She’ll be
followed by MISS LOREN (Arg) (Numerous), Jose Valdivia Jr., 117; STORMICA (Storm
Cat), Michael Baze, 113; BORN TO DANCE (Service Stripe), Jon Court, 112; GOOD
STUDENT (Arg) (Louis Quatorze), Tyler Baze, 114; Musical Chimes, Edgar Prado;
HOLLYWOOD STORY (Wild Rush), Pat Valenzuela, 117; PETIONVILLE INDEED
(Petionville), Tony Farina, 112; PERSONAL LEGEND (Awesome Again), Jerry Bailey,
116; and Star Parade, Victor Espinoza.
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Two races prior to the Santa Maria, a field of five sophomores has been
entered for the $150,000 San Vicente S. (G2). The seven-furlong test features
the three-year-old bow of Breeders’ Futurity (G1) hero CONSOLIDATOR (Storm Cat).
The D. Wayne Lukas-trained chestnut broke his maiden last year by three lengths
before running third in the Sanford S. (G2). A fourth in the Hopeful S. (G1)
came next, then Consolidator seemed to put it all together to record his first
stakes victory in the Breeders’ Futurity. He took on some of the best of his
generation in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and accounted himself well with a
close fourth-place finish.
FUSAICHI ROCK STAR (Wild Wonder) will break from rail while carrying 115
pounds, including David Flores. Next will come KIRKENDAHL (Menifee), Kent
Desormeaux, 115; DON’T GET MAD (Stephen Got Even), Tyler Baze, 115; ROMAN RULER
(Fusaichi Pegasus), Bailey, 122; and Consolidator, Espinoza, 119.
Trainer Bob Baffert told the Blood-Horse Friday that Roman Ruler
will probably not run due to an old quarter crack resurfacing combined with the rainy weather.
