6/27/2020
9 CD Fleur De Lis Handicap (GII) [BC]
$200.000 4yo&Up F&M 1 1/8m Dirt Handicap Weights
It pays to pay attention at the auctions… Hollywood Sister was nabbed from the Mar 2020 Auction for just $38.130… now, she has a GII win and moves up the Filly & Mare handicap board, securing the win in Saturday’s Fleur De Lis Hcp (GII) by a head, getting the mile and an eighth in 1:48 and bringing home a purse that makes her a brilliant purchase. Steel Calling was once again a hard-luck second (making that back-to-back near missed in GII company), with High On Haggis a neck back in third.
The field of eleven got away with Peppermint Tequila flashing early speed, Hollywood Sister, Ewa Beach and Blue Caviar from the inside, High On Haggis, Techno Cheryl and Steel Calling from the outside, then Emmy, Red Lucy, then Moment To Remember from the far outside and Obvious Deception was the early trailer.
Around the clubhouse turn and onto the back side with six furlongs remaining to run, Steel Calling rushed up to take the lead by a length. Peppermint Tequila applying the pressure, Ewa Beach from the rail, High On Haggis five wide and Hollywood Sister back towards the inside. A gap back to Blue Caviar, the two and a half back to Techno Cheryl, Red Lucy Between horses, Emmy along the rail, then a gap back to Obvious Deception and Moment To Remember was the back marker.
Down the backside and into the far turn with three furlongs to run and Steel Calling skipped away to lead by nearly three lengths. High On Haggis still three wide and giving chase, Hollywood Sister between horses and Ewa Beach on the rail. Another length and a half to Peppermint Tequila losing ground, then a gap to the trio of Blue Caviar between horses, Techno Cheryl three wide and Emmy on the rail, Red Lucy in behind that group, Obvious Deception on he inside and Moment To Remember could still see them all as we turned for home.
Into the lane and moving past the furlong marker, Steel Calling with the lead, Hollywood Sister closing in on her flank, High On Haggis down the outside and trying to find more as Ewa Beach cut the corner and was right there… the rest had a lot of work to do and less than a furlong to get it done.
Inside the final 150-yards and to the finish, Steel Calling was now feeling the pressure as Hollywood Sister was looking her in the eye… High On Haggis flying home late on the outside… but as they hit the wire, Hollywood Sister was not to be denied and got the win by a head. Steel Calling was second by a neck with High On Haggis in third. Techno Cheryl made a late move to grab fourth, Ewa Beach tiring on the inside in fifth, then Moment To Remember in sixth, Emmy seventh, Obvious Deception eighth, Red Lucy ninth, Blue Caviar tenth and Peppermint Tequila eleventh.
Hollywood Sister is a 4yo gray filly by Hollywood Kruz – Sequester Sister, by Danzing Host, and she was bred by Estero Farms in NY. Purchased from the Mar 2020 Auction for $38.130 by Winning Link Stables, she now has two wins from nineteen starts and earnings of $390.240.
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 2 – Hollywood Sister | 14.40 | 7.00 | 4.20 |
| 7 – Steel Calling | 6.50 | 4.50 | |
| 8 – High On Haggis | 4.80 |
Track: Fast Time: :472 1:11 1:352 1:48
$1 Exacta: 2 – 7 Paid 44.60 $1 Trifecta: 2 – 7 – 8 Paid 378.50
Scratched: Birthday Girl, Ghost In The Shell(L)
Hollywood Sister raced evenly early, steady gain to press the pace into the far turn, up to join the leader with a furlong to run, all out to secure the win. Steel Calling set the pace to inside the furlong marker, caught, out-finished. High On Haggis showed good speed throughout while forcing the leader, lost some ground mid-lane, came again, full of run. Techno Cheryl rated back off of the pace, steady gain late, good effort. Ewa Beach up near the lead while saving ground, tired late. Moment To Remember outrun for six furlongs, some late foot while passing tiring rivals. Emmy raced evenly while no factor. Obvious Deception was not involved. Red Lucy showed little. Blue Caviar mid-pack early, steady retreat. Peppermint Tequila near the pace for five furlongs, tired.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
