Las Vegas, NV – The Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes goes down at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California this Saturday, June 28. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will take to Santa Anita’s turf track and go one mile for a purse of $200,000.
10 older females will take to the track in the Royal Heroine – race 5 on Santa Anita’s Saturday card. Post time is 3:00 PM. Here is a look into the credentials of all 10 entries for this wide open Grade 2 stakes.
Parranda – won the Millions Filly and Mare Turf Preview Stakes at Gulfstream in November and the Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf January 18 and went on to another win – in the Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes in gate-to-wire fashion February 8 with a fourth in the Grade 3 My Charmer Handicap in December sandwiched in there. Last time out was an OK third as 2-1 favorite in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes here May 26 after a victory in the Grade 3 Wilshire April 27 and a disappointing sixth in the Grade 2 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream March 15. Parranda has won three of her last five starts (all stakes races) with some minor stumbles along the way but looks, on paper like one of the more seasoned entries. Elvis Trujillo has the mount from the outside post for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Moone’s My Name – John Sadler trained British bred mare had six wins, three seconds and three third place finishes in 17 career starts at home before debuting in North America and finishing second by a neck in the minor American Beauty Stakes last April 7. Her first graded stakes action came last April 28 – a decent third in the 2013 Wilshire at Hollywood Park. After7 1/2 months off she returned December 5 to a gate-to-wire Allowance score at Hollywood Park and followed that with a somewhat disappointing fifth in the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel on this track December 29 and an equally disappointing sixth in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes here February 17. Last time out was a good second behind Parranda in the 2014 Wilshire Stakes April 27 which followed a win in the minor American Beauty Stakes here March 29. Moone’s My Name has placed in all nine career grass starts – three wins, two seconds and four third place finishes. Victor Espinoza gets the call from post 6.
Dancingtothestars – Doug O’Neill trained mare is coming off a nice win in the minor Fran’s Valentine Stakes here April 26 after a third in the minor Irish O’Brien Stakes in March, a seventh in her last graded stakes race – the Grade 2 Buena Vista in February and a win in the minor Megahertz Stakes in January. Dancingtothestars looks for her first graded stakes win Saturday after 23 career starts yielded seven wins, four seconds and five third place finishes. Mario Gutierrez rides from post 2.
Stormy Lucy – had an ugly eleventh in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and was forced into a seven month layoff. She finished fifth in the 2013 Royal Heroine and has been up and down since – a win by four lengths in the minor Miss America Stakes October 19, an eighth in the Grade 1 Matriarch at Hollywood Park December 1, a fifth in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes February 17and a very good second behind Customer Base in the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel December 29. She comes off a disappointing fourth in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes here May 26 after a nice two race win streak – the competitive Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes here March 16 and in the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Handicap in April. She has won two of her last three starts overall and will have Joe Talamo in the saddle from the rail.
Wishing Gate – Thomas Proctor trained filly has just one start in 2014 – a fifth as favorite behind Parranda in the minor Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf. She has four wins and three seconds in 12 career starts and has looked very good at the end of 2013 – a win in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes October 26 followed a second to Discreet Marq in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, a good win in her stakes debut – the Grade 2 San Clemente at 5-1 odds at Del Mar July 21 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Arlington Park June 23. She has three wins and a second in her last six starts but has failed to place in her last two. The legendary Gary Stevens will be in charge of Wishing Gate from post 3.
Royal Heroine Stakes betting online at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Redressthebalance – Irish bred filly had two wins at home to start her career and then floundered until an impressive score in the minor California Oaks at Golden Gate February 9, 2013. She finished twelfth in the 2013 Grade 1 Ashland Stake at Keeneland in April and has not started in graded stakes company since. Last time out was a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming here June 5 after a Claiming score in May and another third in an Allowance Optional Claiming in April. Redressthebalance has just one win in the last 16 months and will be looking for her first ever graded stakes score. Corey Nakatani gets the mount from post 4.
Moulin de Mouglin – has 11 career starts for trainer Richard Mandella with three wins, two seconds and a third place finish. She is coming off an Allowance Optional Claiming score on this track May 25 after a fourth in the minor Santa Lucia Stakes April 20, a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming in April and an Allowance score in February. Moulin de Mouglin has placed in five of her last six starts but steps into graded stakes company for the first time Saturday. Mike Smith rides from gate 5.
Habibi – Dan Blacker New Zealand trained mare makes her North American debut Saturday having won six of her nine career starts and recording two seconds as well. She looks to snap a two race win streak however – last time out was a fourth April 20 to follow a third April 6 in her native land. Habibi hopes to carry over her success at home with a good showing Saturday. Brice Blanc will guide her from gate 7.
Kathleen Rose – Michael Machowsky trained mare will race in graded stakes company for the first time Saturday – but she looks ready. She enters on a three races in streak – all Allowance Optional Claiming races on this track after a sixth in her only stakes start – the minor Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf and another two races win streak. Edwin Maldonado gets the call on this most interesting entry from post 9.
Dutchessa – British bred mare races for the first time on American soil Saturday off an Allowance score at Longchamp April 21 and a third in a Weight For Age Stakes at Chantilly in November. She has 21 career starts with five wins, three seconds and six third place finishes and races in graded stakes company for the first time Saturday. She leaves from the 8-hole with Kent Desormeaux in the saddle.
