INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 6, 2008) - Million Dollar Run, who lived up to her name while breaking her maiden in the Railbird Stakes here in just her second career start, steps up to Grade II company in Sunday's $150,000 Hollywood Oaks at Hollywood Park at 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track.
The chestnut daughter of Tejano Run will meet more experienced opposition as she runs around two turns following a pair of sprint races, although the field will not sort itself out until Saturday as four of the entrants - Divine Legacy, Lethal Heat, Fire n' Brimstone and Bel Air Sizzle - are also entered in the Honeymoon Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
Million Dollar Run, trained by Marcelo Polanco for Everest Stables, rallied to score a 2¼-length win in the seven-furlong Railbird on May 11. She will break from the inside post on Sunday. The prospected field lines up as follows:
Million Dollar Run, with Joel Rosario up; Divine Legacy, Joe Talamo; Gambler's Justice, Richard Migliore; Smooth Performer, Michael Baze; Lethal Heat, Rafael Bejarano; Fire n' Brimstone, Victor Espinoza; Miss Singhsix, Alex Solis; Bel Air Sizzle, Clinton Potts, and Tasha's Miracle, Martin Garcia.
Lethal Heat won three straight races before stumbling at the start and finishing third - beaten five lengths by Million Dollar Run - in the Grade III Railbird. She won her first two starts on turf for trainer Barry Abrams before being shifted to the main track for her last two races, which include a win in the Santa Paula at Santa Anita Park.
Bel Air Sizzle, also from the Abrams stable, has recorded three of her four wins on turf. Two starts back she inherited the win in the Melair Stakes on Cushion Track through the disqualification of Gambler's Justice. Most recently, she finished third on turf in the Senorita Stakes.
Tasha's Miracle, the richest filly in the field with earnings of $285,880, won the Sorrento Stakes last summer at Del Mar and finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Monmouth Park. She finished third in the Grade I Las Virgenes at Santa Anita in February and was second in the Railbird following a sixth-place finish in the Beaumont at Keeneland.
Divine Legacy, the Bay Meadows Oaks runner-up, finished fourth in the Senorita while making her last start on turf; Smooth Performer steps up after finishing second in an allowance race; Fire n' Brimstone has won once while making her last eight starts on turf, and Irish-bred filly Miss Singhsix makes her second North American start for trainer Paddy Gallagher.
The Hollywood Oaks runs as the eighth of nine races Sunday. First post is at 1:20 p.m.
