Photo: Hollywood Park
Made to Love Her won her second in a row, following a maiden
win last month with a decisive victory in the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes on a
rainy Sunday at Hollywood Park.
After earning a neck decision for her first win Oct. 23 at
Santa Anita, the 2-year-old Stevie Wonderboy filly left no doubt about her
superiority against four opponents Sunday.
Reserved off the pace while saving ground early, Made to
Love Her, the 5-2 third choice, angled outside for a clear path into the
stretch, collared pacesetter Woebegon with about an eighth of a mile to run and
went on to a four length victory.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, who was winning the Moccasin for
a first time, Made to Love Her covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.88. Out of
the Storm Boot mare Love Boot, the Florida
bred is owned by Copper Penny Stables and trained by Jim Kasparoff.
The $60,000 winner’s share increased Made to Love Her
earnings to $113,960. She has started six times, finishing worse than third
only once. Made to Love Her paid $7.80, $3.40 and $2.40.
Evelyn’s Dancer, the longest shot in the field at 16-1,
rallied for second, a head in front of 8-5 favorite Eva’s Joy. Woebegon and
Lady Hokulea completed the order of finish Evelyn’s Dancer returned $10.40 and
$3 while Eva’s Joy paid $2.20 to show.
Kasparoff, who was winning his first stakes at Hollywood
Park, said Made to Love Her could return in the $250,000-guaranteed Hollywood
Starlet Dec. 10. She would have to be supplemented to the Grade I – which is
run at 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track – for $10,000, plus an additional
$10,000 to start.
“There really weren’t any (allowance races), so you either
have to run in a stakes or ship somewhere else,’’ said Kasparoff. “This seemed
like an ideal spot. She really likes Hollywood
Park quite a bit, she
trains very, very well here.
“I wanted to run her seven furlongs. I thought it would be
an excellent distance for her and the timing was perfect. She got an excellent
trip and ran fantastic. We’ll see how she comes out of the race and we’ll look
at the Hollywood Starlet.’’
Bejarano followed his Moccasin success with two more wins ,
taking the fourth with Dr. Smarty Jack and the sixth with Brown Is Beige. He is
second in the jockey standings with 10 – one behind leader Joel Rosario - after
eight days of the Autumn Meet.
Racing resumes Thursday. Post time for the Thanksgiving
program, which has a Pick 6 carryover of $62,888, is 11 a.m. The Pick 6 will
begin in the third race. Approximate post time is 12 Noon.