Hollywood Park: Imwiththeblonde showing stakes potential

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – It took three races for Imwiththeblonde to beat maidens, finally doing so impressively at Santa Anita on Oct. 21.

When she makes her debut against winners in a $48,000 allowance race over 6 1/2 furlongs at Betfair Hollywood Park on Friday, Imwiththeblonde could earn a spot in a stakes race next month.

“I think we’ll be tough in there,” trainer John Sadler said. “I think she’s stakes-quality.

“If she does well,” said Sadler, she may be headed to the Santa Ynez.

The $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes is run over 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 21. Beholder, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, is a candidate for the Santa Ynez.

Owned by Kosta and Pete Hronis, Imwiththeblonde, a filly by Montbrook, finished second and third in maiden races at Del Mar on Aug. 10 and Sept. 1. The September race, a loss by 1 1/2 lengths as the 7-10 favorite, was a case of having another start before that meeting ended on Sept. 5.

“I might have run her back a little quick at Del Mar the second time,”

Sadler said. “She came up here and showed her ability.”

At Santa Anita on Oct. 21, Imwiththeblonde led throughout a maiden race over 5 1/2 furlongs, winning by 4 1/4 lengths. She has led in all of her starts, but is not one-dimensional, Sadler said.

“She doesn’t have to be on the front, but she has a lot of natural ability,” he said.

The allowance race is the first on an eight-race program and has drawn a field of six.

The field includes one stakes-placed runner in Heir Kitty, who was last of five against males in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes on Nov. 22. Trained by Peter Miller, Heir Kitty was second against males in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 5, losing by a half-length to Know More. She was later fifth after a slow start in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 1.

Friday’s field also includes Pat’s Back, unraced since a seventh in the Del Mar Debutante; Wildcat Angie, who was third to Beholder in an allowance race at Santa Anita on Oct. 4; and Spooky Lady, who races for Hronis Racing and Sadler.

Spooky Lady was claimed for $50,000 on Nov. 8, when she beat maidens in her career debut.