In a field lacking a graded stakes winner, Splendid Blended, whose only setback came to probable 2-year-old filly champion Sweet Catomine, looks best of seven entered in Sunday's $380,000 Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) at Hollywood Park.
The 2-year-old daughter of Unbridled's Song was a five-length winner while making her career debut Sept. 6 at Del Mar. She then finished second – beaten four lengths by Sweet Catomine – as the 7-5 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita. Rank early in that race, she settled down to finish 2 1/2 lengths in front of Memorette, who also runs in the Starlet.
In her most recent start, Splendid Blended cruised to a 3 1/4-length win at Hollywood Park in mid-November at the Starlet distance of 1 1/16 miles.
Owned by Peter Vegso and trained by Neil Drysdale, Splendid Blended will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux once again in the Starlet, which is also contested at 1 1/16 miles.
No Bull Baby, a homebred daughter of
Indian Charlie, has won two of five starts, including the Moccasin Stakes at seven furlongs at Hollywood on Nov. 21. The Bob Baffert-trained filly tops the field with $106,000 in earnings for owners Patti and Hal Earnhardt III.
J. Paul Reddam's Sharp Lisa will be making her first start since being beaten 7 1/4 lengths by Sweet Catomine in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Lone Star Park on Oct. 30. She broke her maiden at Calder Race Course in September before finishing second – by only a neck - in the Alcibiades Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.
Charming Colleen has not finished worse than second while winning two of four starts at Emerald Downs. In her most recent race, she finished second against males in the Gottstein Futurity.
John Shirreffs, who manufactured an upset in the 2003 Starlet with Hollywood Story, shifts Kenza to the main track following her third-place finish in the Miesque Stakes (gr. IIIT) on turf.
Memorette, third in the Oak Leaf, has worked sharply for trainer Bill Currin at Hollywood Park, while Northern Mischief has Hall of Fame connections in jockey Stevens and trainer Ron McAnally.
$380,000 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I), 2-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 milesPP. Horse, Jockey
1. Northern Mischief (KY), Gary L. Stevens
2. Charming Colleen (CA), Garrett K. Gomez
3. Sharp Lisa (KY), Corey S. Nakatani
4. Kenza (KY), Mike E. Smith
5. Memorette (CA), Tyler Baze
6. No Bull Baby (KY), Rene R. Douglas
7. Splendid Blended (FL), Kent J. Desormeaux
All carry 120 pounds.
