(edited track release)
Grade II winner City To City, who has found a home on turf for co-owner and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, makes her Hollywood Park debut in the $100,000 Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT) May 2.
A one-mile grass stakes for 3-year-old fillies, the Senorita attracted seven others. It will be run as the eighth of nine races with a 4:35 PDT post.
Bred in Kentucky by Dr. D. Michael Carey, City To City is a daughter of City Zip out of the Storm Cat mare Stormbow. Besides her trainer, she is owned by William de Burgh and Mark Dedomenico.
Successful twice in seven starts on conventional dirt and synthetic surfaces, City To City has blossomed on turf. She has won three of four and was third in her lone defeat.
After a nose victory in an optional claimer in her grass debut at Golden Gate Fields in January, City To City finished behind Rose Catherine and eventual Santa Paula (gr. III) winner Tanda in the Sweet Life, going about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside at Santa Anita.
Dismissed at 11-1 in the China Doll Feb. 20, she prevailed by 1 1/2 lengths under Joel Rosario, who has the mount in the Senorita. City to City then came back to collect her first graded victory in the Providencia Stakes (gr. IIT). She won the 1 1/8-mile test by a half-length over Andina, who also returns in the Senorita.
City to City will leave from post six and carry top weight of 121 pounds.
Trained by Ben Cecil for owner Arnold Zetcher, Andina, a Singspiel filly out of the Rahy mare Fragrant, has not been worse than third in four starts in the United States. Prior to the Providencia, she finished third in the China Doll. That effort followed back-to-back victories.
One of four Irish-bred fillies in the Senorita, Andina defeated maidens last Oct. 10, then returned Jan. 29 and won an optional claimer. Both of those wins came at the Senorita distance. She will be ridden by Joe Talamo.
Like City To City, I'mneverwrong enters on a two-race win streak. I’mneverwrong was a game winner against maidens March 13. She stretched out to a mile five weeks later and repeated, winning a first level allowance by one length. Victor Espinoza rides for Forging Oaks Farm and trainer Jim Cassidy.
The field also includes Pulpit Magic, ninth of 10 in the Providencia; Cozi Rosie, who was seventh in the Providencia in her first try on turf for owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Sadler; Elusive Galaxy, who is also trained by Cecil; Triple Cream, a winner against maidens in her first on turf April 11; and Hasty.
A winner once in six starts in England, Hasty, a daughter of Invincible Secret and the Kahyasi mare Saramacca, will be racing beyond seven furlongs for the first time in the Senorita. She is now in Cassidy’s barn and will be ridden by Martin Garcia, who won this race in 2008 aboard Sweeter Still.
$100,000 Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT, Race 8, 4:35 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 Mile (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Pulpit Magic (KY), B Blanc, 117, C F Dominguez
2. I'mneverwrong (IRE), V Espinoza, 117, J M Cassidy
3. Elusive Galaxy (IRE),T Baze, 115, B D Cecil
4. Hasty (IRE), M Garcia, 115, J M Cassidy
5. Cozi Rosie (KY), M E Smith, 119, J W Sadler
6. City to City (KY), J Rosario, 121, J Hollendorfer
7. Andina (IRE), J Talamo, 119, B D Cecil
8. Triple Cream (KY), R Bejarano, 117, D E Hofmans