Coconut Girl, who ended Ema Bovary's nine-race winning streak to capture the Desert Stormer Handicap (gr. III) at Hollywood Park on June 5, hopes to complete a rare sweep when she faces eight foes in the $150,000 A Gleam Invitational Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares Saturday.
The only horse to sweep the two major Hollywood Park sprints for females in the same year was Go Go in 2001. Coconut Girl faces Elloluv, one of the leading female horses in the nation when she went to the sidelines more than six months ago with a hind end injury.
"She's been training very well since the Desert Stormer," said trainer Paul Aguirre Thursday of the 5-year-old
Cryptoclearance mare Coconut Girl. "I think seven furlongs should help her."
The Desert Stormer was run at six furlongs, an eighth of a mile less than the invitational A Gleam. Coconut Girl must also overcome the rail. Victorious in five of 16 starts, Victor Espinoza will ride Coconut Girl back.
Elloluv is a multiple grade I winner who ran second to Adoration in last October's Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I). The 4-year-old bay filly, trained by Craig Dollase for J. P. Reddam, has banked $1,221,475 from a 4-3-1 record in 11 races. She was an Eclipse Award finalist for 3-year-old fillies.
She blew out three furlongs in 36 4/5 Wednesday at Hollywood Park for her 2004 bow.
The 4-year-old daughter of
Gilded Time will make her first start since a sixth-place finish in the La Brea Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita on Dec. 27. Dollase said the millionairess is ready to roll again.
Elloluv, unbeaten in two starts at Hollywood, first gained attention when she won the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) as a 30-to-1 shot in 2002. Highlights in 2003 included a victory in the Ashland Stakes (gr. I). She will be ridden by Corey Nakatani under starting high weight of 121 pounds.
Three-year-old Elusive Diva tries elders for the first time after winning the Railbird (gr. III) at Hollywood May 2. She was second to House of Fortune in the Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks (gr. II) in her last start June 12.
$150,000 A Gleam Invitational Handicap (gr. II), fillies & mares 3 & up, 7 furlongsPP. Horse, Jockey Weight
1. Coconut Girl, Victor Espinoza, 116
2. Fencelineneighbor, David Flores, 116
3. Royally Chosen, Alex Solis, 116
4. Tucked Away, Kent Desormeaux, 113
5. Elloluv, Corey Nakatani, 121
6. Elusive Diva, Omar Figueroa, 112
7. Stormica, Javier Santiago, 113
8. Pocketfullofpesos, Tyler Baze, 114
9. Dream of Summer, Mike Smith, 114
