Photo: Hollywood Park
Making her first start since she fell as the favorite Feb. 3
at Santa Anita, All Star Heart rallied strongly to win the $63,391 allowance
feature Thursday at Hollywood Park.
Owned and bred by Gerald Gibbs and trained by Ron McAnally,
All Star Heart rebounded with her second career win after slipping while making
what looked like a winning move more than five months ago.
Ridden by Brice Blanc, the 4-year-old Canadian bred daughter
of Arch and the Ascot Knight mare Gift of the Heart saved ground while getting
closer to the leaders approaching the stretch, angled outside for a clear path
in the final quarter of a mile, then had the best late kick in the closing
yards to win by 1 ¼ lengths.
Winless in her first seven starts while racing in Kentucky
and Canada, All Star Heart now has two victories and a runner-up finish in four
outings for McAnally. She has earned $79,155.
A member of racing’s Hall of Fame since 1990, McAnally is
fourth all time at Hollywood Park with 725 victories. He trails only Bobby
Frankel (952), Charlie Whittingham (859) and Mike Mitchell (852).
Completing the mile on turf in 1:35.13, All Star Heart, the
4-1 fourth choice in the field of seven, paid $10.80, $5.60 and $4.
Caitie’s Secret, the 5-2 favorite who set the pace under
jockey Garrett Gomez, was second, 1 ¼ lengths in front of 7-2 shot Camille C.
Caitie’s Secret paid $3.80 and $2.80. The show price on Camille C was $3.20.