Ticker Tape, deprived of a third straight stakes victory by a head loss in the Senorita Stakes (gr. III), will attempt to regain her winning stature in Saturday's Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Hollywood Park turf Saturday.The $175,000 Honeymoon, for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf, offers its winner an automatic invitation to the $750,000 American Oaks (gr. IT) on July 3.Ticker Tape carries the most imposing credentials of eight entered in the event's 53rd running. The British bred has finished no worse than second in five stakes races since arriving in the United States last autumn. Weighted at 121 pounds, she will be conceding at least six pounds to each of her rivals in the Honeymoon.
Trained by Jim Cassidy for Jim Ford and partners, Ticker Tape just missed winning the one-mile Senorita on May 15 when her three-wide rally fell short. The bay filly, who has earned $259,091 from a 4-5-1 record in 12 starts, will be a attempting a distance beyond one mile for the first time.Golden Eagle Farm and trainer Bob Baffert will counter with Western Hemisphere, coming off a solid allowance race victory at 1 1/16 miles. The California-bred daughter of General Meeting has earned $101,680 from a 2-1-1 mark in four starts, including a second in the $200,000 Melair Stakes.$175,000 Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/8 mile on turf
PP. Horse, Jockey, Wgt.
1. Vencedora Amiga, Mike Smith, 114
2. Sagitta Ra, Corey Nakatani, 114
3. Western Hemisphere, Javier Santiago, 114
4. Lovely Rafaela, Victor Espinoza, 113
5. Shake Off, Tyler Baze, 114
6. Rather Have Rubies, Kerwin John, 112
7. Amorama, David Flores, 115
8. Ticker Tape, Kent Desormeaux, 121
