Owner-breeder George Krikorian had three good reasons
to look forward to this summer while touring the stable area Sunday.
Homebred Star Billing won the $100,000 Grade III
Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf Saturday to remain unbeaten in
two starts, two races after stablemate Guest Star finished a fast-closing
second in a maiden race in her second outing, both for trainer John Shirreffs.
Krikorian is also the owner-breeder of
Hoorayforhollywood, a colt who won his debut for trainer Bob Baffert and is
nominated to the $100,000 Grade III Laz Barrera Stakes here next Sunday.
“Hoorayforhollywood is the first foal out of
Hollywood Story,” said Krikorian of the royally-bred colt by Storm Cat. “He
lost a little time with a foot bruise after his first win (in February at Santa
Anita).” Multiple stakes winner Hollywood Story scored her first stakes win as
a maiden in the Grade I Hollywood Starlet.
Star Billing and Guest Star also boast strong
pedigrees associated with success at Hollywood Park and
should continue to be heard from this meet.
Guest Star is by Storm Cat out of Krikorian’s
multiple stakes-winner Starrer, who was a two-time winner of the Bayakoa
Handicap.
Star Billing is by Dynaformer out of another
Krikorian mare, Topliner. “Topliner is a half-sister to Starrer,” explained
Krikorian.
HEADLEY CONTINUES ASSAULT ON SPEED
Trainer Bruce Headley set a Hollywood Park Cushion
Track record of 55.98 seconds for five furlongs with M One Rifle in defeating
previous record-holder Cost of Freedom by one-half length in the $91,010 Cool
Frenchy Stakes Saturday. Headley said he is aiming M One Rifle for a return May
30 in the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap, in which the Headley-trained Street
Boss holds the six-furlong track and stakes record of 1:07.55, set in
2008.