Fillies and mares highlight
grassy Hollywood weekend
While nearly all of the attention this weekend will be on three-year-olds
competing over the dirt at Churchill Downs, Hollywood Park’s weekend programs
will focus on filly and mares, specifically grass specialists. Saturday’s
marathon 12-race card has as its feature the $100,000
Wilshire H. (G3) for older runners going a mile, while sophomore fillies
will go the same distance in Sunday’s $100,000
Senorita S. (G3).
The Wilshire marks the seasonal debut of DIAMOND DIVA (GB) (Dansili [GB]),
who was one of the leading members of her division in Southern California last
season. Victorious in her U.S. debut in the American Beauty H. at Santa Anita,
Diamond Diva later claimed the 2008 edition of the Wilshire, finished second in
the Gamely S. (G1), then re-rallied to defeat multiple Grade 1 queen Ventura
(Chester House) in the CashCall Mile Invitational (G2). The latter, which took
place July 5, would prove to be her final race of the year, but she’s worked steadily since
February for trainer Jim Cassidy.
Of those who kept busy during the recently concluded Santa Anita meet,
BELMONT CAT (NZ) (Felix the Cat) and TIZFIZ (Tiznow) merit attention. Belmont
Cat has won two of her three starts since her importation, most recently taking
the Santa Ana H. (G2) in a tight finish over BEL AIR SIZZLE (Unusual Heat). Her
only loss thus far was to Tizfiz, who beat her by 2 1/4 lengths in the San
Gorgonio H. (G2) on January 4. Tizfiz, however, has met two reversals since that
wire-to-wire score, finishing third in the Buena Vista H. (G2) and seventh in
the Santa Barbara H. (G2) two weeks ago. Another capable of making a late charge
is the Grade 3-placed stakes winner GORGEOUS GOOSE (Mongoose).
The top three finishers from the April 4 Providencia S. (G2) will reunite in
the Senorita S. ACTING LADY (Theatrical [Ire]), who registered the 20-1 upset
by a half-length, will again meet MRS KIPLING (Ire) (Exceed and Excel), who was
making her American debut in the Providencia, and PASAR SILBANO (Ire) (Elnadim),
who earlier accounted for the La Habra S. (G3). BURG BERG (Johannesburg), who
finished just behind those fillies in fourth, will look to improve her position.
Others of note in the Senorita are CENTURY PARK (General Meeting), who
captured the Santa Ysabel S. (G3) on Pro-Ride earlier this year but also owns a
maiden grass win over the Hollywood lawn, and PRIDE DANCER (Ire) (Fasliyev),
Bobby Frankel’s French import who trailed the Providencia throughout but who
brought a 6-2-3-0 mark with her to the United States.