Hollywood Park: All Star Heart gobbles up ground late to win Redondo Beach

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - All Star Heart was three lengths behind leader Broken Dreams with a furlong remaining in Sunday’s $72,800 Redondo Beach Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Jockey Brice Blanc had the opposition right where he wanted them.

With a wide rally through the stretch, All Star Heart stormed to the front in the final sixteenth. The Redondo Beach Stakes was All Star Heart’s first start in seven months. She won by a half-length over 8-1 Hard to Resist.

“She’s always had a strong kick,” Blanc said of All Star Heart.

Trained by Ron McAnally for breeder Gerald Gibbs, All Star Heart ($8.60) ran a mile on turf in 1:35.45. Blanc had All Star Heart in seventh in the field of eight fillies and mares for the first half-mile and moved into contention at the ideal time.

“What a nice filly,” McAnally said. “I knew she was fit enough. She’s had three seven-eighths [workouts].

“She got so much heart.”

Hard to Resist, who rallied on the rail, finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Briecat. Star Billing, the 8-5 favorite who had not raced since winning the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes here last fall, finished last. Star Billing was wide on both turns.

All Star Heart, a 5-year-old mare by Arch, has won her last three starts. Last fall, she won the restricted Swingtime Stakes and the Grade 2 Las Palmas Stakes at the Santa Anita autumn meeting.

All Star Heart has won 6 of 16 starts and $305,385.