Snow Polina and Happyanunoit, the first- and second-place finishers, respectively, from the Beverly D Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington International in August will face each other again in the $750,000 Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap (gr. IT) Saturday at Belmont Park. The 1 1/4 mile turf race drew a field of eight older fillies and mares.
Snow Polina and Happyanunoit will each carry highweight of 121 pounds, conceding from five to seven pounds to the rest of the field. Happyanunoit, who is entered as a coupled entry with stablemate Hello Soso, is the slight morning-line favorite at 7-5, with Snow Polina at 9-5. Edgar Prado, is named to ride both halves of the entry.
Gary Tanaka's Snow Polina has been steadily improving all year, capped by her one-length victory over Happyanunoit, the West Coast's top distaff turf horse, in the Beverly D. A 5-year-old daughter of Trempolino trained by Bill Mott, she began the year in allowance company.
"It's been very rewarding watching her develop into a top horse this year," said Mott. "To watch her go from an allowance horse to winning the the Beverly D, that was pretty special."
In the Beverly D, Happyanunoit raced on turf rated as less than firm for the first time in 12 North American races. The Robert Frankel-trained New Zealand-bred will be guided by Prado for the first time Saturday.
The field for the Flower Bowl -- with jockeys, weights, and morning-line odds -- will consist of:
1--Pico Teneriffe, Jorge Chavez, 115, 12-1
2--Melody Queen, Chris McCarron, 114, 15-1
3--Snow Polina, Jerry Bailey, 121, 9-5
4--(E)Happyanunoit, Edgar Prado, 121, 7-5
5--(E)Hello Soso, Edgar Prado, 114, 7-5
6--Lisieux Rose, Jose Santos, 116, 6-1
7--Pretty, John Velazquez, 114, 6-1
8--Colstar, Jean-Luc Samyn, 116, 12-1
