Even though defending champion Tuscan Evening is awaiting a stakes date at Arlington Park, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has a chance to win the $150,000 Royal Heroine Mile (gr. IIT) for a second year in a row July 3.
The trainer will be represented by U R All That I Am in the event, which is the fourth race on a Hollywood Park program that includes the $250,000 American Oaks (gr. IT) for 3-year-old fillies. The Royal Heroine Mile is set to go at 2:32 p.m. (PDT).
U R All That I Am, a Tommy Town Thoroughbred homebred daughter of Valid Wager and the Fort Calgary mare Fort Silver, is aiming for her third stakes win of the meet. The 4-year-old won the 7 1/2-furlong B. Thoughtful over Cushion Track on California Gold Rush Day April 24, then stretched to a mile on turf and won the Fran’s Valentine May 23. Both of those victories came in races restricted to California breds.
U R All That I Am’s last win against open company came in an optional claimer at six furlongs over Tapeta last Oct. 4 at Golden Gate Fields. She has won eight of 15 and earned $307,628. Hollendorfer is trying to become the third trainer with multiple victories in the race. Julio Canani has won three and the late Bobby Frankel won twice.
Gotta Have Her, a consistent 6-year-old daughter of Royal Academy and the Rahy mare Winnowing, is the main threat. She is exiting the May 29 Gamely Stakes (gr. I) for owner Green Lantern Stables and trainer Jenine Sahadi. She finished a fading sixth after bobbling at the break in the nine-furlong Gamely, a race won by Tuscan Evening.
Worse than third only once in nine races on grass at the Royal Heroine distance, Gotta Have Her has eight wins in 26 lifetime starts and has earned $882,608.
Spring Style has been idle since finishing sixth in the Buena Vista Handicap (gr. IIT) on Feb. 15 at Santa Anita. She posted a bullet five-furlong work In 1:00 at Hollywood on the turf June 27.
“She was out with niggling little things, but she’s doing well now," trainer Ben Cecil said. "A mile is probably the bare minimum for her, but I’ve got to run her somewhere.”
Spring Style, an Irish-bred 4-year-old filly by Pivotal, has won three of 10 starts for owners Kristina Cecil, the trainer’s wife, and Zillah Reddam, while earning $105,677. She won her only start on the Hollywood turf last November.
Burg Berg, trained by Paco Gonzalez and owned by John and Cheryl Toffan, is coming off a couple of close seconds in conditional allowance races. Seeking her first stakes victory, she has won three of 12 starts and earned $140,555.
Rosey de Megeve, a British-bred 4-year-old filly trained by Leonard Powell, ran second by a head to Turning Top in the Redondo Beach June 5. Turning Top returned to win the Beverly Hills Handicap (gr. IIIT) convincingly June 26.
New Zeland-bred Exquisite, trained by Paddy Gallagher, completes the lineup.
$150,000 Royal Heroine Mile Stakes (gr. IIT, Race 4, 2:32 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. U R All That I Am (CA), R Bejarano, 117, J Hollendorfer
2. Gotta Have Her (KY), T Baze, 121, J Sahadi
3. Rosey de Megeve (GB), M Garcia, 117, L Powell
4. Spring Style (IRE), A Quinonez, 117, B D Cecil
5. Burg Berg (KY), J Rosario, 117, J P Gonzalez
6. Exquisite (NZ), V Espinoza, 117, P Gallagher
