Over the Fourth of July weekend in 2010, HARMONIOUS (Dynaformer) joined the
big leagues with a victory in the American Oaks (G1) at Hollywood Park. One year
after that powerful stakes debut, the John Shirreffs filly seeks to kick-start
her career anew in Monday’s $150,000
Royal Heroine Mile (G2) over the same turf course.
Unlike last summer, when Harmonious was definitely on the upswing, this time
she enters off a nearly five-month layoff, and bids to halt a three-race losing
streak. Following her imperious conquest in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup
(G1) at Keeneland last October, she suffered her worst career defeat when 10th
in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
Harmonious returned in the Robert J. Frankel S. (G2) on New Year’s Day at
Santa Anita, where she was compromised by a dawdling early pace and rallied late
to miss by a nose. Next experimenting with dirt in the February 13 La Canada S.
(G2), Harmonious failed to sparkle on the new surface and finished a tiring
third, well beaten by both Always a Princess and Blind Luck (Pollard’s Vision).
Shirreffs wasn’t satisfied with her subsequent training and decided to
freshen the strapping filly. Harmonious recorded her first work back, an easy
half-mile, on June 7, and has followed up with three five-furlong drills.
Although Harmonious brings a perfect three-for-three local mark into the
Royal Heroine, she is also cutting back to a flat mile for the first time since
her maiden win, and as the 123-pound highweight, she’ll be spotting six pounds
to each of her rivals. Regular rider Joel Rosario will guide the stalker from
post 2.
Her most dangerous opponent could be CELTIC PRINCESS (Brz) (Public Purse),
the controlling speed, who nearly wired the May 30 Gamely S. (G1) going nine
furlongs at Hollywood. The former Brazilian Horse of the Year shortens up one furlong
here and warrants respect with a returning Rafael Bejarano. The A.C. Avila mare
figures to clear the field early from the outside post 6.
WILD MIA (Wildcat Heir) used to show early foot for Tom Proctor, but the gray
has been reserved off the pace in her last three outings. Making her Hollywood
debut in the course-and-distance prep, the June 5 Redondo Beach S., she closed
from near the back to deny ANDINA (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) by a neck. Monday’s
pace might not be quite so hot, however, and it wouldn’t be a total shock to see
Wild Mia keep tabs on Celtic Princess early.
GIVINE (Fr) (Blackdoun [Fr]) should produce a striking change of gear late.
The Julio Canani filly flew to catch Separate Forest (Forestry) by a half-length
in the six-furlong Great Lady M. S. here, and is entitled to enjoy the added
ground. Givine was mostly campaigned at a mile in her native France, winning
four times and twice placing in stakes versus useful foes. Moreover, Canani has
said that Givine reminds him of her sire, Blackdoun (Fr), whom he trained to
sweep the 2004 Del Mar Derby (G2), La Jolla H. (G2) and Oceanside S. Joe Talamo
picks up the mount aboard the up-and-comer.
The Grade 2-placed Andina, fourth to Harmonious in last year’s American Oaks,
has scored all three of her wins at a mile. LATE CUDDLE (NZ) (Postponed), the
winner of a second-level allowance at Hollywood in October, was last seen
finishing seventh in the February 21 Buena Vista H. (G2). The Jerry Hollendorfer
mare will take the blinkers off for the holiday feature.