Hollywood Park: Flashy Ways should benefit from experience

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Flashy Ways had a bad afternoon when she finished 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

She started from post 13 in a field of 14, raced wide on both turns, and was steadied in the stretch when racing within a few lengths of the lead. The incident cost her any chance at a top three finish – she was beaten 6 1/4 lengths by Flotilla.

Her next assignment is Saturday’s $100,000 Miesque Stakes over a mile on turf for 2-year-olds fillies at Betfair Hollywood Park. This job will be slightly easier.

The experience of the Breeders’ Cup loss will be applied to the Grade 3 Miesque, where Flashy Ways starts on the outside in a field of nine.

“I hope she’ll settle in behind horses,” trainer Richard Baltas said.

“That’s not going to be easy.”

The outside draw in the Breeders’ Cup was an early concern for Baltas, who trains Flashy Ways for Riley Racing Stable.

“I think we were up against it when we drew the 13 hole,” Baltas said.

“I was concerned about getting some position. The thing I learned is maybe she doesn’t want to be that close. She can get a little keen.”

Flashy Ways is one of three stakes winners in the Miesque field.

Butterfly Soul won the Phil Shepherd Stakes at Fairplex Park in September, and was second to Miesque entrant Miss Empire in the Pike Place Dancer Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Oct. 27.

Flashy Ways won the Surfer Girl Stakes over a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 8. She closed from fifth in that field to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Four of the fillies in the Miesque have been imported from Europe – Birdlover, Premier Steps, Pussycat Lips, and Redressthebalance.

Premier Steps, who has been based in New York with Chad Brown since September, placed in two group races in England and France earlier this year – a third in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and a second in the Prix du Calvados at Deauville in August.

Premier Steps has worked steadily since early October. The Miesque Stakes will be her first start beyond about seven furlongs.

Miss Empire is expected to improve from her hard-fought win in the Pike Place Dancer. She disputed the lead throughout with Butterfly Soul on a course rated good.

“She didn’t handle the soft turf up north and won in spite of it, trainer Peter Miller said. “She’ll appreciate the firm turf course.

She’s got a big stride and a big heart.”

Still, Miller knows which filly is the one he must beat.

“The Chad Brown filly looks very tough,” he said.