Hollywood Park: Kyriaki follows familiar path to Honeymoon Handicap

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The pattern is remarkably similar.

Last spring, the lightly raced My Gi Gi finished second in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park in early May and followed with a career-defining win in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap for 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/8 miles on turf in early June.

Fast forward to this year, and trainer Peter Eurton is using the same races with Kyriaki, who has made four starts. Owned by Dominic Savides, Kyriaki was third in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes on May 11, a prep for Saturday’s $150,000 Honeymoon Handicap.

Eurton said he thinks his stable has a chance for a repeat win in the Honeymoon, with a tactical filly by Scat Daddy who could benefit from distance.

“She’s very sharp and forward,” Eurton said. “She’s forwardly placed on her own. There is no reason to take that away from her. She acts like a filly that will go farther.”

Kyriaki will race against Charlie Em and Scarlet Strike, who were first and second in the Senorita. Becky Lou, Macha, and Wittgenstein also are probable runners.

As much as Eurton would like to win the Honeymoon on Saturday, he said he thinks that Kyriaki will be even better in the meeting’s top race for 3-year-old fillies – the $350,000 American Oaks on July 13.

“It would be more fun to win the American Oaks,” he said.

The $200,000 Charles Whittingham Handicap over 1 1/4 miles is Saturday’s most lucrative race. Slim Shadey, winner of the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita, is an expected starter against All Squared Away, Lime Rickey, Lucky Primo, Smart Ellis, and Tale of a Champion.

Del Mar summer focus for My Gi Gi

My Gi Gi finished fifth in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes on May 27 and will start in stakes at Del Mar later this summer.

Eurton said My Gi Gi may race before the end of the current spring-summer meeting at Hollywood Park on July 14. At Del Mar, there are several stakes for fillies and mares on turf, most notably the $250,000 John Mabee Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 11.

My Gi Gi has won 2 of 11 starts and $255,540.