Home Journey, who has won her first two starts by a combined margin of nearly 10 lengths, will try to stay perfect in the $200,000 Soviet Problem Stakes Dec. 9 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Scheduled for seven furlongs over Cushion Track, the inaugural Soviet Problem is part of the Golden State Series for horses bred or sired in California. The ninth of 10 races Sunday, the Soviet Problem attracted a field of eight 2-year-old fillies.
Owned by GGG Stables and Russ Sarno and trained by Mike Puype, Good Journey defeated state-bred maidens by 1 1/2 lengths in her debut Oct. 13 at Santa Anita Park. She followed that up with an allowance win over Cal-breds by 8 1/4 lengths in her Cushion Track initiation Nov. 9.
A daughter of Good Journey out of the winning Came Home mare Goodtobehome, Home Journey has worked twice over Hollywood's main track since her allowance victory. Her most recent drill, five furlongs in 1:00 flat Dec. 2, was the second quickest of 52 on the morning. Aaron Gryder, who has been aboard the bay filly in both of her prior starts, retains the mount. They break from post 4.
Three-time stakes winner Tilde, the most accomplished starter in the field, will cut back in distance after finishing sixth of seven against open company in the Sharp Cat Stakes Nov. 11. Owned by trainer Mike Harrington, who bred the gray filly with his wife Patricia, Tilde has won four of six and banked $332,560.
The daughter of Swiss Yodeler won three consecutive stakes restricted to California-breds prior to the Sharp Cat. Two of the wins came at Del Mar—the CTBA and the Generous Portion—and the other was the California Cup Juvenile Fillies Oct. 13 at Santa Anita.
Unusual Way will be aiming for her third stakes win in a row for owners Edward J. Brown Jr. and Phil Lebherz, and trainer Jeff Bonde. The Unusual Heat filly followed an 11-length score in the Wine Country Debutante Aug. 11 at Santa Rosa with a 3 1/2-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Sprint Preview Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.
Bred by Thomas W. Bachman, Unusual Way has won three of five and banked $145,610. Unusual Way, who drew the rail, races without Lasix.
Runner-up behind Home Journey last month, Akiss Forarose has one win in six starts for a partnership that includes Craig Warren, Templeton Horses, and breeder Terry Lovingier. Trained by Gary Sherlock, the daughter of Rio Verde won by a nose at 24-1 in her career debut June 2 at Hollywood.
$200,000 Soviet Problem Stakes (Race 9, 4:35 p.m.), California-Bred or Sired 2YO Fillies, 7 Furlongs (All Weather)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Unusual Way (CA), R Bejarano, 121, J Bonde
2. Tribal Custom (KY), J Talamo, 115, M F Jones
3. Home Journey (CA), A T Gryder, 119, M Puype
4. Akiss Forarose (CA), J R Leparoux, 117, G Sherlock
5. Awe Golly Molly (CA), J J Hernandez, 117, W Solis
6. Sacred Delight (CA), G K Gomez, 117, J E Kruljac
7. Tilde (CA), C S Nakatani, 123, M Harrington
8. Doinghardtimeagain (CA), M Garcia, 117, J Hollendorfer
Home Journey is a perfect 2 for 2 in her young career.
Benoit Photo