Hollywood Park: Byrama to face strong field in A Gleam Handicap

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Byrama, the winner of the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap at 1 1/8 miles June 15, will revert to racing around one turn in Saturday’s $200,000 A Gleam Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park, trainer Simon Callaghan said Sunday.

Callaghan solidified plans for Byrama after she worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday, the fastest of 48 recorded works at the distance.

“She worked fantastically well,” Callaghan said. “It was a carbon copy of her work before her last out.”

Byrama won the first Grade 1 race of her career in the $250,250 Vanity, closing from third in a field of six to win by 3 1/2 lengths under jockey Gary Stevens. Following that race, Callaghan said Byrama would make her next start in the $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on Aug. 3.

After Byrama’s workout Saturday, Callaghan said there is time for an additional start next weekend before pointing the 4-year-old filly to the Grade 1 Hirsch.

“She’s in such good form,” Callaghan said. “Running back in three weeks is no problem for her whatsoever.”

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Byrama has won 5 of 19 starts and $484,750.

The Grade 2 A Gleam Handicap is run over seven furlongs for fillies and mares and is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth for the winner to the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita in November.

[BREEDERS' CUP CHALLENGE: Win and You’re In schedule and results]

The A Gleam will have a strong field, including Teddy’s Promise, the winner of the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita in January and a troubled third in the Desert Stormer Handicap here June 16; Rumor, the winner of the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita in March; and Winding Way, the winner of the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap in 2012 who was fifth in the Desert Stormer Handicap.

Reneesgotzip, second in the Grade 1 La Brea in December, and Include Me Out, who won the Desert Stormer, may start. Trainer Peter Miller said Reneesgotzip was “50-50” to run, while Ron Ellis said he wanted to wait until entries were due Wednesday before finalizing plans for Include Me Out.