Cee's Elegance begins Gold Rush with win

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Cee's Elegance and Jetinto Houston dominated six rivals Saturday in the first of six California-bred stakes on California Gold Rush Day at Hollywood Park. Favored at 7-5 in the $150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes, Cee's Elegance defeated Jetinto Houston by three-quarters of a length. It was 7 1/2 lengths back to Real Paranoide in third in the seven-furlong race, run in 1:21.70 over a track that played lightning-fast early in the card.

Cee's Elegance ($4.80) was winning for the fifth time in a 29-race career that is winding down. According to co-owner Michael Cooper, Cee's Elegance, a 6-year-old Cee's Tizzy mare, will campaign sparingly this year. She will aim for the California Cup Matron in the autumn Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita, and is likely to be retired and bred in Kentucky next spring. Victor Espinoza rode the winner for trainer Doug O'Neill.

In the $150,000 Fran's Valentine Stakes, for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf, Shalini upset 3-5 favorite Blind Ambition. Corey Nakatani rode Shalini, who won by a neck in 1:41.41. Trained by Craig Dollase, Shalini returned $7.80. Blind Ambition was three wide throughout, made the lead passing the quarter pole, and got worn down. She held second over Sunset Serenade.

Summer Service beaten at 1-2

Was Summer Service a one-hit wonder? After earning one of the year's highest Beyer Speed Figures by a 3-year-old (108), Summer Service returned to earth on Saturday. Hammered to 1-2 in an allowance sprint, race 2 on the Gold Rush card, Summer Service offered no resistance to El Nuki ($23.80), who won by four lengths, running seven furlongs in a quick 1:21.19. Summer Service finished 3 1/2 lengths clear of third. El Nuki is trained by Vladimir Cerin and was ridden by Pat Valenzuela.

Key to the Heart upsets Hawthorne

On Friday night at Hollywood, longshot Keys to the Heart ($37) won the Grade 3 Hawthorne Handicap over a weak field. Only four fillies and mares raced in the 1 1/16-mile stakes, which Keys to the Heart won by a half-length over Rhiana.

Alexine, the 1-2 favorite, steadied sharply while rallying along the rail in deep stretch and finished last. She was moved to third when Se Me Acabo was disqualified for interference.

Keys to the Heart, trained by Beau Greely and ridden by Jose Valdivia, won for the second time in 15 starts. Meguial and Styler were scratched.