Starlet (Grade 1) (KYO)- $300.000 Purse
LA- For Fillies Two Years Old
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
December 8, 2018

Southern Two Step came into the Starlet doing everything that her trainer, The Sidley Stud, had asked her to do once the debut race was out of the way. She had won four consecutive, including her last two each by four lengths. This made her an intriguing choice, but she had never faced a field like this in her career. That was not about to stop her, but this one would be a lot closer as both she and Panentheism were locked in a tight photo at the wire, and she would prevail. For The Sidley Stud, this is his first win in the stake. Also a first time winner in the race is the great F Pennington, her jockey. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:41.93, which would have had her dead heat with last years winner, Confidently In Love. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :24.16)- Camp Hollywood, fresh off her BC Juvenile Fillies win, surprises many as she jumps out to the early lead, as this is not typically her running style. Love Struck Baby is second for D J C Racing Stables, and she begins to pull up alongside Camp Hollywood here. Running three wide is Miss Outofcontrol for Mb Stables. Those three are a half a length apart. Stalking the leaders while two back is where we see our eventual winner, The Sidley Stud’s Southern Two Step. Lucky Pivot, from Serenity Stables is running beside her to her inside here. It’s another length to Panentheism, from Smokey Stover, as she looked to pick up the second stake win of the day for the Connectivity-Miss Farley combination. Super longshot Xtra Hot was to her outside, for Fractious. Kaikoura (Smokey Stover) is the trailer.

(½ Mile- :47.90)- Down the backstretch, Camp Hollywood is looking good as she opens up by nearly a length and a half. Miss Outofcontrol is now up to second, and tucks in behind the pacesetter. Love Struck Baby, who had been with these two since the beginning, appeared to be in a restrain early in the backstretch run, and dropped back into the pack. Southern Two Step continued to keep her distance to the leader at two and a half lengths. Initially, she considered the fourth lane, but with the drop of Love Struck Baby, she was able to move over to inside one, and give herself just a little bit better lane for the turn. Considering how close it was at the end, every small little detail helps. Panentheism began creeping forward at this point, while on the rail. She was now up to fourth, and about three and a half back. Lucky Pivot dropped towards the rear of the field, with Xtra Hot and the trailing Kaikoura.

(Top Of Stretch, 2F To Go)- Camp Hollywood is still out front, and has not been challenged yet. You had to think that the BC Juvenile Fillies winner may have gotten away from them at this point, as her lead was still about two lengths. But there was some reason for concern lurking behind her, mainly in the form of Southern Two Step. She had maintained her third lane trip around the turn, though Miss Outofcontrol was still running pretty strong to her inside. That did not bother Southern Two Step, and now this horse who knows how to win was within two lengths of the leader. It would take a great effort, though. Miss Outofcontrol was still third here. Running fourth was Panentheism, and she had a tough time in the turn. It looked like I Ortiz Jr wanted to move her down and squeeze in between Miss Outofcontrol and Southern Two Step, but there was no room there, so he had to call that off, and go to the rail. That would be fine, but another one of those little things that look real big when considering the eventual finish. Love Struck Baby and Lucky Pivot were next, each looking to regain some ground that they conceded early in the backstretch. Xtra Hot and Kaikoura were still at the back.

(Finish- 1:41.93)- In the stretch, it was soon clear that Camp Hollywood was not going to be able to hold on. Southern Two Step was running strong to her outside, and Panentheism was running just as well to her inside. Each of them would pass Camp Hollywood without much difficulty, and the race was going to come down to the two of them. A fantastic battle and effort by both of them would lead to a finish that was too close to call, and force the stewards to have to examine the tight photo. That would determine that Southern Two Step had just barely won in the headbob over Panentheism. Love Struck Baby got up for third just ahead of Camp Hollywood. On the far outside, it was Lucky Pivot, then Kaikoura. Miss Outofcontrol struggled in the stretch, though was better then Xtra Hot.

About The Winner- Southern Two Step, trained by The Sidley Stud and ridden to victory by the great F Pennington, is a two year old filly by Southern Style, and is out of Two Pistol Two Step. She was bred in Ontario by The Sidley Stud as a first quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fifth in six starts, all five wins being consecutive, her second stake win, and her first graded win. Her career earnings are now $267.940.

Track: Fast
Time: :24   :47⁴  1:11²  1:41⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 1 Paid 20.80
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 1 – 6 Paid 105.10

Scratched: Elegant

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES