Alec’s
Moon made a successful transition to Southern California, springing a 14-1
upset in her local debut Thursday at Hollywood
Park.
Rallying
in the center of Cushion Track, the daughter of Malibu Moon and the
Conquistador Cielo mare Bella Cielo ran down Teroda in the final sixteenth of a
mile to win the $44,174 optional claimer for 2-year-old fillies.
Owned
by Mark DeDomenico, John Carver and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Alec’s Moon won
for the second time in five starts. She has earned $52,100. Her first four
races had come at Golden Gate Fields and Santa
Rosa.
Last
in the Golden Gate Debutante, a race won by stablemate Cathy’s Crunches, Nov.
6, Alec’s Moon responded to a waiting ride from leading jockey Joel Rosario.
The victory was the second of four on the day for Rosario.
Purchased
for $125,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale in 2009, Alec’s Moon
completed the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.51 while prevailing by one length. She paid
$30, $9.20 and $4.20.
Teroda,
who gained the lead early in the stretch from 13-10 favorite Sugarinthemorning,
paid $4.80 and $3.80. She finished 1 ¾ lengths in front of Belleofthebridle,
who paid $4 to show. Sugarinthemorning was fourth ahead of Lucky Trippi and
Farallon.
Making
her first start for owner J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill after being
privately purchased out of an impressive debut victory Aug. 26 at Golden Gate, Farallon was pulled up on the turn by jockey
Corey Nakatani after showing the way.
The
2-1 second choice was vanned off the track with an injury to her left front
ankle. Farallon was claimed for $80,000 by trainer Mike Puype for owners Tom
Lenner and Skyline Stables.
The
defending Autumn meet champion, Rosario, who also won the first with Hot
Citizen, the fourth with the Hollendorfer-trained She’s An Illusion and the
eighth with Circa’sgoldengear, holds a 33-24 advantage over Rafael Bejarano.
There are seven days left in the season.
The
Pick Six paid $24,259. A total of $612,630 was wagered into the sequence
Thursday in pursuit of a $95,807 carryover from Sunday.