Gary Tanaka’s STAR PARADE (Arg) (Parade Marshal) was able to kick clear of
6-5 favorite Dream of Summer (Siberian Summer) in the stretch of Sunday’s $150,000
Bayakoa H. (G2)
at Hollywood Park to pick up her first win in more than a year. Dream of Summer
broke to the early lead and set splits of :24, :47 1/5 and 1:11 while
Star Parade loomed closely in second. As the pair came down the stretch, the
six-year-old Star Parade was able to pull away from the tiring Dream of Summer
and stop the timer in 1:41 4/5 over nine fast-track furlongs under jockey Martin Pedroza.
Star Parade left the gate at 4-1 and returned $10.60, $4 and $3, while leading $1
exotics of $11.20 (exacta), $44.90 (trifecta) and $121.30 for the 7-6-13-2
superfecta. Dream of Summer hit the wire four lengths back to pay $3 and $2.40
while Island Fashion (Petionville) garnered the show at 5-1 to give $3. Rounding out the order
of finish were Girl Warrior (Elusive Quality), Halo Ola (Arg) (Southern Halo),
Cream Donut Keith (Lion Hearted), Sparkling Humor (Distorted Humor), Nossa
Cancao (Brz) (Fast Gold) and A Song in A Minor (Real Quiet). Somethinaboutlaura
(Dance Floor), Proposed (Benchmark), I Can Yodele (Swiss Yodeler) and Fast Navy
(Brz) (Minstrel Glory) were scratched.
Bred in Argentina by Firmamento, the Darrell Vienna-conditioned dark bay is
out of the stakes-winning mare Clerical Etoile (The
Watcher). This was Star Parade’s first victory since annexing the Milady
Breeders’ Cup H. (G1) over this same surface in July of 2004. She finished a
close second earlier this year in the Apple Blossom H. (G1) to Dream of Summer
and recently finished a close runner-up in the Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup H.
(G2) two starts back. This victory improves her record to 27-7-7-4 with $935,419
in earnings.