Photo: Hollywood Park
In the Stars, the 13-10 favorite, ran down pacesetter Kune
Kune in the closing yards to win the $53,050 feature Friday at Betfair
Hollywood Park.
Given a ground-saving ride by jockey Corey Nakatani, the
4-year-old Brazilian bred filly split the eventual runner-up and third place
finisher Plaza de Indias inside the final sixteenth of a mile to prevail by a half-length.
Trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella for owner Alessandro
Arcangeli, the daughter of Romarin and the Dance Bid mare Miss Dance completed
the mile on turf in 1:36.12.
The victory was her second – both on grass - in four starts
in the United States. She’s won three of 10 in her career while earning $139,119.
Never higher than 9-5 since joining the Mandella stable, In
the Stars, who was a distant fourth behind eventual Bayakoa Stakes winner Lady
of Fifty in the Palm Springs Handicap over conventional dirt Nov. 1, paid
$4.60, $2.60 and $2.60.
Stretching out after a nose win at about 6 ½ furlongs over
the Santa Anita turf in her U.S. debut Nov. 4, Kune Kune, the 9-2 third choice,
had a sizable advantage through the first five furlongs, gamely fought back
when challenged, but weakened slightly late. She paid $5 and $3.80. Plaza de Indias, who
finished a half-length behind Kune Kune, returned $3.20 to show.
Jolly Days, Gem of Soul, Secret Cove, Cayanna and Minds
Eyes, the 4-1 second choice, completed the order of finish.
With two days remaining in the Autumn meet,
Edwin Maldonado
holds a 26-21 lead over Martin Garcia in his bid for a first riding title in
Southern California.
A native of Puerto Rico, Maldonado, who turned 30 Dec. 1,
tripled Friday. After sweeping the early double with 2-1 favorite Leaving New
York and 13-1 shot Atticlude, the first winner for trainer Alerino Caceres, Jr.
since 1996, Maldonado returned to take the sixth with Dawn’s Charm.
The 3-1 second choice in a field of seven 2-year-old maiden
fillies, Dawn’s Charm quickly established the lead and was never menaced,
rolling to a 10 ¾ length victory. The fourth place finish of Sweet Sense, the
2-5 favorite, triggered some sizable show prices.
A gray daughter of Hard Spun trained by Jeff Bonde for owner
Michael House, Dawn’s Charm paid $8, $3.80 and $6.80. My Looloo returned $8 and
$14.60 while the show payoff on Mezzanotte was $25.80. Of the $47,517 wagered
to show in the 6 ½ furlong race over Cushion Track, $36,732 was bet on Sweet
Sense.
The only other jockey with more than one win Friday was
Rafael Bejarano. He picked up third race winner Insideonoutside when Garrett
Gomez was off his mounts due to illness for a second consecutive day and also
won the fifth with favored No Silent. Bejarano has 19 victories at the meet,
leaving him tied for third with Joe Talamo.