Eclair de Lune is ready for a comeback. The German-bred daughter of Marchand de Sable boosted her resume considerably when she captured the 2010 Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington Park, but has been unable to score a win since in her last four starts.
The 5-year-old bay will have her chance when facing an international field of seven other fillies and mares from six different countries in the May 30 Gamely Stakes (gr. I) at Hollywood Park. The 1 1/8-mile turf event is the ninth race on the card and has an approximate post time of 5:05 p.m. PDT.
The Gamely, the first grade I event of the spring/summer meet, is one of two stakes on the Memorial Day program. The other is the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap, a grade III event at six furlongs over Cushion Track.
Trained by Ron McAnally for Richard L Duchossois, Eclair de Lune started her career in France, where she placed in a group III contest as a 3-year-old in 2009. She was sent to the United States later that year where raced at Santa Anita and Arlington. In addition to winning the Beverly D., she was runner-up in the Modesty Handicap (gr. IIIT). In all, she holds a record of 3-2-1 from 14 starts, for earnings of $561.592.
Bred by Th. Kohler, Eclair de Lune is out of the Acatenango mare Elegante. The mare, who is looking to rebound from fifth-place finishes in her first two starts of 2011, will carry top weight of 123 pounds and will be ridden by Chantal Sutherland in the Gamely. The pair will break from the rail.
Sure to pose some competition to Eclair de Lune are Malibu Pier and Cozi Rosie.
Successful in consecutive grade II races at Santa Anita, Malibu Pier returns to the scene of her maiden victory in the Gamely. Owned by breeder B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm and trained by Carla Gaines, Malibu Pier followed her victory in the Santa Ana (gr. IIT) March 19 with another in the Santa Barbara (gr. IIT) Handicap April 16.
A half-length winner in her career debut on the Hollywood Park grass, Malibu Pier, a 4-year-old Malibu Moon filly out of the Lomitas mare Blue Moon, has won five of nine and earned $342,200. Brice Blanc, who rode Malibu Pier for the first time in the Santa Barbara, is back aboard. He is seeking his second Gamely victory, having won with Happyanunoit for the late trainer Bobby Frankel in 2001.
Trained by John Sadler for Jerry and Ann Moss, Cozi Rosie is a two-time Southern California graded stakes winner and comes into the Gamely off a runner-up effort as the favorite in the April 16 Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park, before which she captured the Feb. 21 Buena Vista Handicap (gr. IIT) at the same track.
Cozi Rosie is now back on the course where she earned her first stakes win—the 2010 Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT). Owned by breeders Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Sadler, the 4-year-old Pleasantly Perfect filly out of the Golden Fleece mare Felidia has four wins in 10 attempts and a bankroll of $277,280. She won the 2010 Senorita in her initial start on the Hollywood Park turf, then was second, beaten by a head, a month later in the Honeymoon Handicap won by Evening Jewel.
Carrying 119 pounds, she will be ridden by regular jockey Mike Smith in the Gamely and will break from post 2.
Also in the field are other grade/group stakes winners Turning Top, Madera Castana, Celtic Princess, and Dubawi Heights. The latter horse brings an especially fierce resume to the table, with a victory in the April 30 Wilshire Handicap (gr. IIIT) last out at Hollywood.
Also on Hollywood’s May 30 card is the Los Angeles Handicap (gr. III), which drew a field of eight and has an approximate post time of 4:35 p.m.
Cost of Freedom will seek to become only the second two-time winner in the long history of the event when the sprint is renewed for the 59th time.
A winner as the 11-10 favorite against six opponents in 2010, Cost of Freedom would join Native Diver (1965 and 1967) as a repeater in the Los Angeles.
Owned by Gary and Cecil Barber and trained by John Sadler, who has won the race a record five times, the 8-year-old Cee's Tizzy gelding has 11 wins in 23 starts and earnings of $898,693. Seven of those wins and most of his bankroll have come since he was claimed for $50,000 by his current connections July 28, 2008 at Del Mar.
One of Cost of Freedom’s half dozen rivals Monday is M One Rifle, who defeated him by a half-length in the Cool Frenchy Stakes at five furlongs May 7.
Owned by a partnership that includes breeders Ed Bernstein, Bryan Greenspun and trainer Bruce Headley, the 5-year-old One Man Army gelding has won five of 13, earning $471,002. M One Rifle established a Cushion Track record in the Cool Frenchy, completing the distance in :55.98. Headley has won the Los Angeles three times, most recently with Street Boss in 2008.
Amazombie, a three-time stakes winner, carries top weight of 122 pounds. The 5-year-old son of Northern Afleet , out of the In Excess mare Wilshe Amaze, has been perfect in his last two starts. He captured the April 3 Potrero Grande Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita, followed by the April 23 Tiznow at Hollywood Park.
The versatile gelding has won on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces. He is 2-for-2 over the Hollywood Cushion Track, having earned his maiden victory there in 2009 prior to his 2 3/4 length win in the Tiznow. Mike Smith will ride, and the pair will break from the rail.
Also in the field is grade II winner Indian Firewater; stakes winner Gato Go Win; and graded stakes-placed runners Supreme Summit and Camp Victory.
$250,000 Gamely Stakes (gr. I, Race 9, 5:05 p.m.), Fillies and Mares, 3 & Up, 1 1/8 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Éclair de Lune (GER), C Sutherland, 123, R L McAnally
2. Cozy Rosie (KY), M E Smith, 119, J W Sadler
3. Turning Top (IRE), G K Gomez, 117, S Callaghan
4. Dubawi Heights (GB), J Rosario, 117, S Callaghan
5. Madera Castana (CHI), P A Valenzuela, 117, R Cardenas
6. Restless Soul (GB), J Talamo, 117, N D Drysdale
7. Malibu Pier (KY), B Blanc, 119, C Gaines
8. Celtic Princess (BRZ), R Bejarano, 117, A C Avila
$100,000 Los Angeles Stakes (gr. III, Race 8, 4:35 p.m.), 3-year-olds and up, six furlongs (all weather track)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Amazombie, M E Smith, 122, W Spawr
2. Indian Firewater, J Rosario, 116, B Baffert,
3. M One Rifle, C Sutherland, 118, B Headley
4. Camp Victory, J Talamo, 114, M R Mitchell
5. Gato Go Win, G K Gomez, 115, R Troeger
6. Supreme Summit, R Befarano, 117, M Puype
7. Cost of Freedom, T Baze, 122, J W Sadler