Killer Graces, winner of consecutive stakes at Hollywood Park, leads a field of eight juvenile fillies for the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes (gr. III) Aug. 5 at Del Mar.
The 6 1/2-furlong Sorrento headlines Del Mar’s eight-race Friday program. Post time for the Polytrack feature is set for 7 p.m. PDT.
Trained and co-owned by Jerry Hollendorfer, Killer Graces won the 5 1/2-furlong Cinderella Stakes June 11 and one month later scored in the Landulace Stakes at six furlongs on Cushion Track—both at Hollywood Park. The daughter of Congaree —Heatherdoesntbluff, by Old Trieste came from off the pace in each win, both under Joe Talamo.
A winner in two of three starts and earner of $113,500, Killer Graces will break from post 1 under Talamo. She will carry co-top weight of 123 pounds.
Killer Graces was bred in Kentucky by Brian Kahn.
Also carrying 123 pounds will be Coudelaria Jessica’s Heleonor Rugby. The daughter of Tribal Rule won the California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stakes July 22 at Del Mar by 1 1/4 lengths. She broke her maiden in June at Hollywood, and sandwiched between those two victories was a runner-up finish in the Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes.
A.C. Avila trains Heleonor Rugby, who will break from the outside under Christian Santiago Reyes.
The runner-ups from both the Landulace and the CTBA are also back for the Sorrrento. Mighty Caroline was beaten a half-length in the Landulace after setting the pace and being caught in the stretch. Willa B Awesome was in contention the whole way in the CTBA before falling 1 1/4 lengths short. Both fillies have maiden wins at Hollywood Park.
Doug O’Neill trainee River Kiss was a debut maiden winner by nearly three lengths July 17 at Hollywood and returns after a solid work at Del Mar July 29.
$150,000 Sorrento Stakes (gr. III, Race 7, 7 p.m.), 2YO Fillies, 6 1/2 Furlongs (Polytrack)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Killer Graces (KY), J Talamo, 123, J Hollendorfer
2. Made to Love Her (FL), A Delgadillo, 117, J M Kasparoff
3. Willa B Awesome (CA), G K Gomez, 119, W Solis
4. Wee Highland Lass (KY), M E Smith, 116, O J Jauregui
5. River Kiss (CA), M Garcia, 119, D F O'Neill
6. Mighty Caroline (KY), J Rosario, 119, M Conlon
7. Silent Sue (IN), P A Valenzuela, 119, W Solis
8. Heleonor Rugby (CA), C Santiago Reyes, 123, A C Avila