Hollywood Park: Moone's My Name goes for first U.S. win Thursday

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Comebackers and imports will replenish the California female turf division this winter, including two new shooters trained by John Sadler – Moone’s My Name and the highly regarded Beatrice.

Beatrice is still months away from a U.S. debut, but Moone’s My Name returns from a seven-month layoff Thursday at Betfair Hollywood Park, where the six-time winner is favored to win a $60,000 turf allowance that is race 7.

The 1 1/16-mile race marks the resumption of a campaign that was interrupted after only two U.S. starts. “She hurt her knee, no fracture, so we turned her out for 90 days and she’s coming back,” Sadler said.

She is coming back in a race she is qualified to win, though she faces a worthy rival in Gulsary, who is an improving import moving up in class for trainer Tom Proctor.

Moone’s My Name and Gulsary are the principals Thursday. The others are Rock and Glory, who is nominated for a main-track stakes race Saturday; Lady Ten, a Grade 3-winning comebacker; and outsiders Dancingtothestars and Hard to Resist.

Moone’s My Name was purchased last fall in Europe and made her U.S. debut for Sadler and the Batchelor Family Trust in the spring at Santa Anita. The runner-up by a neck in a minor stakes race, she subsequently finished third in the Grade 3 Wilshire at Hollywood. Her luck was not good.

“She didn’t have a great trip,” Sadler said. “She didn’t break, and she had a little trouble.”

Moone’s My Name walked out of the gate, was bumped twice in the stretch while trying to squeeze through rivals, and missed by two lengths. She’s been idle since that April 28 race.

Sadler said he’s optimistic that she is ready to fire Thursday. “She’s the favorite in there,” Sadler said, revealing no secrets. “The knock is first time off a layoff.”

Though 6 for 19, Moone’s My Name is not a graded stakes winner, but Sadler will unveil another import in the spring with established class.

A two-time Group 3 winner, Beatrice was purchased last fall at a European auction for approximately $500,000. Sadler and the filly’s owner, Hronis Stable, have high expectations.

Beatrice won four races and $266,515 from 12 starts in Europe and would be favored in an allowance race similar to Thursday’s. Sadler is in no hurry with Beatrice. He expects the English-bred daughter of Dr Fong to make her U.S. debut in March or April.

On Thursday, the main rival for Moone’s My Name is another European import. Gulsary won 2 of 10 in France before she was purchased at auction in February by Glen Hill Farm. Fourth in her U.S. debut, she won a second-level allowance last out under a hand ride and should be competitive moving up the ladder.

Rock and Glory would be the speed of the Thursday field, although her best races have been on the main track. She was nominated to the Grade 2 Bayakoa Stakes on Saturday.

Lady Ten, a Grade 3 winner last year against 3-year-olds, returns from a 10-month layoff for Bob Baffert. Dancingtothestars and Hard to Resist have run races that would make them competitive here.