Hollywood Park: Eurton has strong cast of females

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Whether they ran last weekend, are starting this Saturday, or are being prepared for late season comebacks, trainer Peter Eurton has a strong team of fillies and mares for 2012 with She’s Cheeky, My Gi Gi, and Weemissfrankie.

She’s Cheeky was third in the Grade 2 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park last Saturday, the ninth time she has been second or third in a stakes.

She is a candidate for the $200,000 A Gleam Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park on July 14.

The July 14 program could be a big day for Eurton. He would like to start My Gi Gi in the $400,000 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on turf that day.

Saturday, My Gi Gi can win her first stakes in the $150,000 Honeymoon Handicap over 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Second by a nose to the ill-fated Bobina in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes over a mile on turf on May 5, My Gi Gi makes her second start for Eurton in the Grade 2 Honeymoon. She joined his stable in early March, having been trained by Al Cates and Brian Koriner during a 2-year-old campaign that included a second in the Happy Ticket Stakes at Louisiana Downs in September.

In the Honeymoon, My Gi Gi must beat Lady of Shamrock, who won three turf stakes during the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. Eurton is banking on jockey Rafael Bejarano coaxing My Gi Gi to settle early.

“I was surprised how keen she was early in the race, and how well she finished,” Eurton said of the Senorita. “I hope she settles more. I thought it was good for her first run coming off a layoff.”

The Honeymoon will have a small field. Bobina suffered a catastrophic injury to a foreleg after the Senorita and was euthanized.

As for She’s Cheeky and Weemissfrankie, racing plans for those runners will be better known in coming weeks. She’s Cheeky needs “to put some weight on,” Eurton said. “I think that needs to be done. I could run in the A Gleam, or I could pass on that and wait for Del Mar.”

Last year, Weemissfrankie won two Grade 1 races – the Del Mar Debutante and Oak Leaf Stakes – before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and fourth in the Hollywood Starlet. She was turned out with a cannon bone injury last December and is making progress on her recovery.

Eurton said a comeback in the autumn is likely. She could begin galloping later this month, pending X-rays.

“She’s getting a saddle on her every day and wanting to do more,” he said. “I’ve always said I can’t wait to see what she’s like as a 4-year-old. She’s starting to fill out.”