Harmonious returns to her preferred turf course July 4 when she makes her first start in nearly five months in the $150,000 Royal Heroine Mile (gr. IIT) at Hollywood Park.
For fillies and mares, the Royal Heroine is the eighth of nine races on Hollywood’s holiday program. A field of six was entered.
Owned by breeders Pam, Marty, and Emily Wygod and trained by John Shirreffs, Harmonious is three-for-three on the Hollywood grass, including a 1 1/4- length victory in the American Oaks (gr. IT) last July 3.
A 4-year-old Dynaformer filly out of the Storm Cat mare Jade Tree, Harmonious has won four of nine and earned $550,420. The Royal Heroine will be her first race since she finished third, 6 3/4 lengths behind winner Always a Princess, in the La Canada Stakes (gr. IIT) Feb.13 at Santa Anita.
Defeated by a head by Dubawi Heights in the Gamely Stakes (gr. IT) May 30, Celtic Princess will cut back an eighth of a mile in distance Monday. Trained by A.C. Avila for owner-breeder Jessica Coudelaria, the 7-year-old Brazilian bred has won five of 14 and earned $240,624. The daughter of Public Purse and the Formal Dinner mare Exotic Dinner won a pair of group I races in her native country.
Wild Mia will try for her second stakes win of the spring/summer meet for Rosemont Stud Syndicate and trainer Tom Proctor. In her first Hollywood start, the 4-year-old Wildcat Heir filly won the Redondo Beach Stakes June 5. The neck victory was the fourth in 12 races for the gray, who has earned $228,174.
Trainer Julio Canani, who has won the Royal Heroine a record three times, will attempt to add to the total when he saddles Givine. A 4-year-old French-bred daughter of Blackdoun, Givine enters off a come-from-behind score in the Great Lady M. Stakes at six furlongs May 25.
She is proven at a mile, having won four times at the distance in France. Givine is six-for-10 and has a bankroll of $145,432.
Andina, who finished second in the Redondo Beach, will seek her second victory of 2011 for owner Arnold Zetcher and trainer Ben Cecil. The Irish bred has won three of 13. The 4-year-old Singspiel filly has earned $207,113.
Late Cuddle will try to give trainer Jerry Hollendorfer his second win in this race in three years following 2009 winner Tuscan Evening. Owned by M.K. Johnston Jr., the 6-year-old New Zealand-bred mare has won six of 20, earning $101,256.
The Royal Heroine will be her first start since she finished seventh of 10 in the Buena Vista Handicap (gr. IIT) Feb. 21 at Santa Anita. Her most recent win was over the Hollywood Park turf. Late Cuddle won an allowance during the Oak Tree season last Oct. 16.
$150,000 Royal Heroine Mile (gr. IIT, Race 8, 4:35 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 Mile (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Andina (IRE), G K Gomez, 117, B D Cecil
2. Harmonious (KY), J Rosario, 123, J A Shirreffs
3. Late Cuddle (NZ), T Baze, 117, J Hollendorfer
4. Wild Mia (FL), D R Flores, 117, T F Proctor
5. Givine (FR), J Talamo, 117, J C Canani
6. Celtic Princess (BRZ), R Bejarano, 117, A C Avila