Malibu Pier, attempting to rebound from a fifth-place finish in last month's Gamely (gr. IT), returns to the distance of her last victory when she faces Cozi Rosie and four other fillies in the $100,000 Beverly Hills Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park June 26.
The two 4-year-old fillies staged a rousing stretch duel in the 1 1/4-mile Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita April 16, with Malibu Pier prevailing by a half-length. The Beverly Hills, also at 10 furlongs, is the eighth of nine races at Hollywood with a post time of 4:44 p.m. PDT.
Though she defeated Cozi Rosie in that earlier match-up, Malibu Pier was assigned 119 pounds for the Beverly Hills. That's one pound less than the top-weighted Cozi Rosie, who was a closing third in the 1 1/8-mile Gamely as the 19-10 favorite.
The Santa Barbara was the 1 1/4-mile debut for Malibu Pier, who is owned by breeder B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm and trained by Carla Gaines.
The Malibu Moon filly has won five of 10 starts, including the Santa Ana Stakes (gr. IIT) prior to the Santa Barbara, and has earned $347,200. She has a win over the Hollywood Park grass, that coming in her debut at six furlongs last July 15.
Trainer John Sadler, who won the Beverly Hills in two of the past three years with Black Mamba in 2008 and 2009, saddles Cozi Rosie.
Owned by breeders Jerry and Ann Moss, the Pleasantly Perfect filly has won four of 11, banking $307,280. Her last victory came in the one-mile Buena Vista Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Feb. 21. She captured the Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT), also at one mile, at Hollywood more than a year ago.
Restless Soul finished directly behind Cozi Rosie in the Gamely and will be seeking to end a nine-race losing streak in the Beverly Hills. Owned by Matthew Cioros and trained by Neil Drysdale, the 7-year-old daughter of Singspiel last won the Yerba Buena Stakes at Golden Gate Fields in April 2009.
Drysdale’s also entered First Settler, owned by Charles Winner. The 4-year-old daughter of War Chant was fifth in the restricted Redondo Beach Stakes June 5. This will be her first start in a graded event.
Trainer Richard Mandella, who has four victories in the Beverly Hills, will send out Claiborne Farm homebred Timezone. The 4-year-old Pulpit filly has raced once this year, finishing third in an allowance at Golden Gate May 14. She won three of six starts last year.
Streamline Baby, a California-bred daughter of Ferrari, makes her stakes debut for trainer Darrell Vienna.
$150,000 Beverly Hills Handicap (gr. IIIT, Race 8, 4:44 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 1/4 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Malibu Pier (KY), B Blanc, 119, C Gaines
2. First Settler (KY), T Baze, 114, N D Drysdale
3. Timezone (KY), M E Smith, 112, R E Mandella
4. Cozi Rosie (KY), J Rosario, 120, J W Sadler
5. Restless Soul (GB), J Talamo, 114, N D Drysdale
6. Streamline Baby (CA), M Garcia, 110, D Vienna
Malibu Pier has won five of 10 starts, including the Santa Barbara.
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