Hollywood Park notes: Byrama eyes Clement L. Hirsch Stakes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Byrama, the former turf sprinter who won the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap over 1 1/8 miles at Betfair Hollywood Park on Saturday, will remain in two-turn races on the main track this summer, trainer Simon Callaghan said Sunday.

Callaghan and the filly’s owners, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, are even considering the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic over 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Nov. 1 as a possible long-term option.

“It’s in the back of our minds,” Callaghan said.

For her next start, Byrama will be pointed to the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, a Grade 1 for fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack synthetic surface at Del Mar on Aug. 3.

“I think it’s the obvious route to go,” Callaghan said. “It’s good spacing. I think she’ll like that Polytrack at Del Mar. We know she can get the distance on synthetic.”

Byrama, a 4-year-old British-bred filly by Byron, won the longest race of her career in the Vanity. She was second in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita in April 2012, her only other start at the distance.

In the Vanity, Byrama ($14) closed from third in a field of six to win by 3 1/2 lengths over More Chocolate. Lady of Fifty, the 8-5 favorite, finished third.

Byrama won the Manhattan Beach Stakes over six furlongs on turf at Hollywood Park and the Unzip Me Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in 2012. She has won 5 of 19 career starts and $484,750.

Viva Carina has foot injury

Viva Carina, who finished first in the Grade 2 Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita in April but was demoted to second for causing interference in the stretch, has been sidelined this spring.

Trainer A.C. Avila said Viva Carina is recovering from a foot injury and will miss three months of training.

Avila has a recent import from Brazil for the Del Mar meeting. High Jinks, a 4-year-old filly by the Irish-bred stallion Crimson Tide, was a Group 3 winner in Brazil last November. High Jinks has been working steadily at Santa Anita since late April.

High Jinks was fourth in the Group 1 Grande Premio Henrique Possollo over a mile on turf in February and seventh in the Group 1 Brazilian Oaks, the Grande Premio Diana, over 1 1/4 miles on turf in March.