Hollywood Starlet J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A large field of 13 two-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/16 miles to contest
the $250,000 Hollywood Starlet S. (G1) on Sunday. With the lack of a clear-cut
horse to beat, we’ll side with the improving RUNAWAY ROSIE (Include) for the top
prize. The David Hofmans charge was much the best in the recent Sharp Cat S. and
has trained forwardly in advance of this one, including a bullet six furlongs in
1:11 2/5. We love the fact that Garrett Gomez retains the mount, since he seems
to be bagging all of the big races at Hollywood, and we’ll look for the gray to
make a solid run late to earn the Grade 1 tally.

To complete the Include-sired exacta, we’ll look for SHE’S INCLUDED (Include)
to challenge for the place spot. Conditioned by Christopher Paasch, the March
foal was last seen running a fair sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
(G1) and should appreciate the lesser competition in this one. The bay shows
four solid works since her return to the Golden State and certainly has the
class to compete here, evidenced by her Grade 1-placing three prior. Victor
Espinoza will guide the lass.

DOWN (Mr. Greeley) charged hard late to finish second in a maiden event at
Belmont, and now steps up to Grade 1 company for Bobby Frankel. We love the
aggressive move by the Hall-of-Fame trainer, as well as the gray’s splendid
morning displays over this surface, and are especially encouraged by the
presence of jockey Alex Solis. If the miss can adept quickly to a new distance
and surface, we see no reason that she couldn’t compete for a top-three finish.

ROMANCE IS DIANE (In Excess [Ire]) has experience with two-turn racing and
comes off a superb tally in the California Cup Juvenile Fillies S. last out for
Mike Mitchell. The dark bay is bred to handle a route of ground and has
dangerous tactical speed, which should give David Flores every opportunity to be
well positioned late. If able to transfer her form from state-bred to open
company, the March foal is yet another who could challenge for in top three.

MISTICAL PLAN (Game Plan) is arguably the class of the field and is in solid
form for top trainer Doug O’Neill, but we’re going to try to beat the likely
overbet favorite. The California bred filly was a dominant winner of the Cover
Gal S. two prior, before registering a solid runner-up finish in the Pocahontas
S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. We don’t question the talent of the miss nor the
ability of jockey Corey Nakatani, but this surface has been unkind to
head-strong horses and the bay could be up against it late. MYSTIC SOUL (Bahri)
was game in finishing second in the Miesque S. (G3), and could factor if she’s
able to handle the Cushion Track. Conditioned by the red-hot Jeff Mullins, the
bay filly could be somewhat hindered by the outside post, but has the main speed
right inside her and might not be hung out too wide if Aaron Gryder is on his
game. We’re not sure if the miss is of Grade 1 quality, but her current form and
connections certainly give her a chance at a nice paycheck.

BARONESS THATCHER (Johannesburg) will make her first start for Patrick
Biancone in here, and the miss will need major improvement to trouble these
foes. The chestnut was impressive in breaking her maiden at Keeneland two back,
which was her only effort over the synthetic surface, but followed that with a
off-the-board effort in the Pocahontas. The filly is well drawn on the rail and
could complete some superfectas with a reversal of form under Julien Leparoux.
SUPER FREAKY (Smart Strike) could be worth a second look if she’s able to
transfer her turf form onto the Cushion Track. The miss was a credible fourth in
the Miesque S. (G3) last out and could fire her best in the third start off the
layoff. We love the connections, but we’re still not certain if she’s good
enough to crack the top three.

QUICK LITTLE MISS (Freud) owns a stakes win and a Grade 1 placing, so she
should be respected off her resume alone. The Warren Stute pupil has already put
in five starts since September and we worry if she has any room for improvement.
The bay had a dream set-up for her latest tally, but we don’t envision a similar
scenario in this one. TIZTHEN (Tiznow) acts like a sprinter and was quite
headstrong in the Moccasin S. in her latest venture for trainer Bill Currin. The
bay was an expensive yearling purchase and has shown ability in her prior races,
but we seriously doubt her ability to shine at this trip.

BETRLUCKYTHANGOOD (More Than Ready) showed little late in the Sharp Cat last
out and would need to improve a great deal to factor with this solid group. HIGH
CHOLESTEROL (Until Sundown) seems a step slow for this bunch, and the same can
be said for HUCKING HOT (GB) (Desert Prince [Ire]), who could only grab a share
with a serious pace in front of her.