With the top turf mares in Southern California missing the race, it's time for someone new to step forward in the $150,000 Royal Heroine Mile Stakes (gr. IIT) July 6 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
My Gi Gi, the lone graded stakes winner, is the 121-pound highweight in the field of six older fillies and mares.
Trained by Peter Eurton, My Gi Gi is seeking her first win in more than a year; she nosed out dual grade I winner Lady of Shamrock in the Honeymoon Handicap (gr. IIT) over the Hollywood lawn June 9, 2012.
The 4-year-old E Dubai filly has just one start this year for owners Dennis Conner, Lloyd Debruycker and Wade Jacobsen, finishing fifth of seven in Hollywood's Gamely Stakes (gr. IT) May 27. It was her first race in eight months.
Last year, she was second to Lady of Shamrock in the American Oaks (gr. IT) following her Honeymoon triumph. Edwin Maldonado retains the mount on My Gi Gi, who drew post 4 in a field of six.
The supporting feature to the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) Saturday, the Royal Heroine is the fifth race with a scheduled post time of 3:04 p.m. PDT.
Schiaparelli, to race two turns for the first time in her career, could go favored after her sharp front-running win in the Great Lady M Stakes May 26 at six furlongs.
Owned by breeder Ran Jan Racing and trained by Mike Puype, the 5-year-old gray daughter of Ghostzapper out of the multiple graded stakes-winning turf sprint mare Cambiocorsa was the 3-5 choice in the Great Lady M. She won while firmly in command throughout over five opponents by 2 1/2 lengths; she is 2-for-3 on the Hollywood lawn.
Stormy Lucy finished fast for fourth in the Redondo Beach Stakes June 9 in her 2013 bow for Erica Gaunt and trainer Frank Lucarelli. That was the first start for last year's Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) runner-up since she was last of 11 in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) Nov. 2. The 4-year-old filly is a daughter of Stormy Atlantic .
Louisiana-bred I Dazzle returns to turf after finishing third in the Marjorie L. Everett Handicap (gr. II) May 18. Trained by John Sadler for owners Katie Jones and Peter Peluso, the 5-year-old Hold That Tiger mare had back-to-back wins over the Santa Anita Park turf this spring, including the American Beauty Stakes April 7.
Appealing, trained by Paddy Gallagher for Yvonne Jacques, had a two-race win streak snapped when she finished ninth of 11 after pressing the pace in the Redondo Beach.
Egg Drop won by three-quarters of a length in her initial try on grass in an allowance May 24 for Little Red Feather Racing and trainer Mike Mitchell. She is a three-time winner from eight overall starts.
$150,000 Royal Heroine Mile Stakes (gr. IIT, Race 5, 3:04 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Stormy Lucy (KY), M A Pedroza, 115, F Lucarelli
2. Appealing (IRE), M E Smith, 115, P Gallagher
3. Schiaparelli (KY), J Talamo, 115, M Puype
4. My Gi Gi (KY), E A Maldonado, 121, P Eurton
5. Egg Drop (FL), M Garcia, 115, M R Mitchell
6. I Dazzle (LA), R Bejarano, 117, J W Sadler