Coconut Girl takes down Ema Bovary

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Coconut Girl ended Ema Bovary's bid for a 10th consecutive victory in Saturday's $106,000 at Hollywood Park.

Coconut Girl disputed the lead throughout and won by 1 1/4 lengths over Ema Bovary, the 2-5 favorite. Coconut Girl ($13) finished six furlongs in 1:08.91.

Stormica finished third in the field of five fillies and mares.

Ema Bovary broke from the rail and was in tight quarters briefly behind Coconut Girl and pacesetter Jetinto Houston on the turn. Ema Bovary rallied between rivals in early stretch to be second at the eighth pole, but could not catch Coconut Girl.

"I was never where I wanted to be," said jockey Roberto Gonzalez, who rode Ema Bovary. "She did kick a little bit."

Gonzalez said Ema Bovary was quiet during the post parade.

"She never really felt like she usually does," he said. "She's usually quiet, but she was more like that today."

Ema Bovary had won nine consecutive races, a streak that began with the Soviet Problem Handicap at Golden Gate Fields in March 2003.

"I thought she'd win for fun," said trainer Larry Ross. "It was fun, though. It's not like it's all over. She'll start another [streak]."

Coconut Girl won her first stakes in the Grade 3 Desert Stormer. Third behind Ema Bovary in the Grade 3 Las Flores Handicap at Santa Anita in February, Coconut Girl has won 5 of 16 starts and $254,606 for JPF Investments and trainer Paul Aguirre.

In a 10-day span in early May, Coconut Girl finished second in the Woodside Handicap at Bay Meadows and second in an allowance race here.

"I knew one of these days she'd put it together and win one of these races," Aguirre said.