Photo: Hollywood Park
In her first start since Jan. 29, Warren’s
Blossom made a successful turf debut in the $66,620 allowance feature Friday
night at Hollywood
Park.
Trained by Jorge Gutierrez for owner-breeder Benjamin
Warren, the 4-year-old Extra filly out of the Present Value mare Past `n
Present broke on top, then was content to track the slow pace set by Pincelada,
took the lead with less than an eighth of a mile to go and inched clear late to
win by 1 ½ lengths.
The second of three wins for jockey Martin Pedroza, Warren’s Blossom, the 5-2
second choice in the field of six, paid $7, $3.80 and $3. She ran the six
furlongs in 1:10.57.
Seeking her first victory in her fifth start on grass,
Pincelada, who set fractions of 24.64 for the opening quarter and 47.87 for the
half-mile, saved the place by a half-length over Win for M’Lou. Pincelada
returned $3.80 and $3. The show price on Win for M’Lou was $4.20.
Completing the order of finish were Catch Lorraine, the
longest shot in the cast at 14-1, Excellent News, the 2-1 favorite who lost her
best chance at the break when away poorly from the rail, and Downhill Diva.
The win was the fifth in seven races for Warren’s Blossom and increased her earnings
to $145,450. Before Friday, the dark bay had won two wins over conventional
dirt (Fairplex Park
and Santa Anita) and had won twice over Hollywood Park’s
Cushion Track.
In collecting his first triple at Hollywood
Park since Nov. 6, 2010, Pedroza also
won the first with Balboa
Bay and the fifth on
Streets of Heaven.