J. Doug McClure's longshot Star Parade surprised most everyone -- including Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) champion Adoration -- on Sunday at Hollywood Park, as the 4-year-old Argentinean-bred filly jumped out front and never looked back en route to a 3 1/4-length win in the the grade II, $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap.Ridden by Victor Espinoza at 112 pounds, Star Parade covered the 1 1/16 miles on the main track in 1:41 flat to set a stakes record. Sent off as the fourth choice at 12-1, she paid $26.40, $7.40 and $3."This really is a very, very good filly," Espinoza said. "I worked her last week, and I was really impressed. She worked awesome. I mean, it's been a long time since I've worked a filly who went like that. This one isn't a run-off type either. She can finish. So I just let her run today."Adoration, with Patrick Valenzuela aboard at 121 pounds, finished second and paid $3 and $2.40. Odds-on favorite Bare Necessities and jockey Rene Douglas ran third and paid $2.20. "I didn't even take a hold," Espinoza said. "I didn't care how fast they were going. I really wasn't worried about the fractions because she had showed me she could finish. She's got a lot of heart. I felt Adoration coming a little bit. Then I kind of hit my horse just a little bit to keep her focused, and we opened up two or three lengths more."Trained by Darrell Vienna, Star Parade has won four races in 12 starts and finished in the money eight times. The winner's share of $90,000 increased her career earnings to $176,117. A daughter of Parade Marshal, Star Parade was making her fifth U. S. start in the Bayakoa after being imported here earlier this year."I thought we'd be on the lead," Vienna said. "The reason we put her in here is because we thought she had a chance to win the race. We knew we could get in light (with Espinoza). I told Victor not to fight her, if she was on the lead that was fine. I expected her to be on the lead. Victor had a full-license to do what he wanted and it paid off."
(Chart, Equibase)
