'Healthy' eyes back-to-back graded wins

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - So whose turn is it to win on Sunday?

In the last year, Healthy Addiction, Hollywood Story, and Star Parade have won graded stakes in Southern California, but failed to win consecutive races at that level. Healthy Addiction will try for that accomplishment Sunday, when she runs in the Grade 3, $100,000 Hawthorne Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Hollywood Park.

She has to beat Hollywood Story and Star Parade, as well as the longshots Freakin Streakin, New Regina, and Santa Candida.

Healthy Addiction led throughout to win the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita on March 11. She was held out of the Apple Blossom and graded stakes in Kentucky because she does not travel well, trainer John Sadler said. Instead, Healthy Addiction will be campaigned at Hollywood Park this spring and summer.

"There are plenty of races here," Sadler said.

Hollywood Story and Star Parade are looking to rebound after finishing fifth and sixth in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 8. Trainer Darrell Vienna dismissed Star Parade's loss.

"It was a different track," he said.

The loss came in Star Parade's first start since she won the Grade 1 Santa Maria Handicap at Santa Anita on Feb. 11. Last December, Star Parade won the Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap here, but returned to finish 10th in the Grade 2 San Gorgonio Handicap on turf in January.

"In a sense, she's been unpredictable," Vienna said. "She likes Hollywood and is doing well."

Hollywood Story has been predictable in the last year - she has always lost. After a dramatic victory in the 2005 Hawthorne, where she went to her nose on the first turn after clipping heels, Hollywood Story has lost seven consecutive races. The streak includes a tough loss by a nose to Tucked Away in the Grade 2 Clement Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar last fall.

Trainer John Shirreffs insists that Hollywood Story is better than her sixth-place finish in the Apple Blossom.

"I'll throw that race out," Shirreffs said. "She broke poorly, got a lot of dirt in her face, and faded."

In February, Hollywood Story finished third to Star Parade in the Santa Maria, her first start since she finished eighth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff last fall.

Hollywood Story is based at Hollywood Park, the site of all three of her stakes wins.