Hollywood Miss benefits from blinkers off

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Racing without blinkers for the first time, Hollywood Miss scored a front-running half-length win over Arabella’s Muse in the $50,000 Strawberry Morn at Hastings Monday. She paid $7.50 as the third choice in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares.

With David Lopez aboard, Hollywood Miss cruised through moderate interior fractions of 22.65 and 46.10 seconds. Hollywood Miss was tracked by Arabella’s Muse, who collared her at the top of the stretch, but couldn’t get past. Heavily favored Rather Beautiful stalked the leaders the whole way while finishing third.

Lopez gave trainer Troy Taylor credit for taking the blinkers off of Hollywood Miss.

“We have been working with her in the mornings without blinkers,” said Lopez. “The change really helped her relax.”

Owner Glen Todd was confident Hollywood Miss was going to win after he saw the slow interior fractions.

“When I saw the 46 for the half I knew they were going to have a hard time getting past her, “ he said. “We probably should have taken the blinkers off a while ago.”

The final time was 1:17.10.