Hollywood Park: Reminiscing looks like good spot for Spectacular Sky

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Spectacular Sky ran the best race of her career in an optional claimer over 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita back in February. A repeat of that performance may be good enough to win Friday’s $70,000 Reminiscing Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Run over 7 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares who have not won a stakes worth $50,000 to the winner, the Reminiscing Stakes will be the longest start for the 4-year-old Spectacular Sky since she finished a well-beaten fifth in an optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles here last May.

An extended race around one turn has trainer Marty Jones enthused that Spectacular Sky can achieve her third career win in her 12th start.

“It looks like a good spot for her,” he said. “She’s got a good post and it’s a good distance.”

Owned by a partnership, Spectacular Sky has drawn the outside in a field of five. In her last two starts over 6 1/2 furlongs, Spectacular Sky was second in the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita on March 11 and a troubled third in an allowance race here on May 4.

In the latter race, she was bumped at the start, chased eventual winner Reneesgotzip into the stretch, and faded to finish third, beaten 2 3/4 lengths.

“I think the start put her in a tough spot,” Jones said. “She got boxed in there and the other filly got on an easy lead.”

Joel Rosario will ride Spectacular Sky for the first time.

“I think Joel should fit her well,” Jones said. “I think he can put here wherever he wants. There is a long run to the turn.”

The field includes one 2012 stakes winner in Top Debutante, who won the Ann Owens Distaff Handicap over six furlongs at Turf Paradise on April 28.

Suzettes Friend, fifth in the Grade 2 Marjorie Everett Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on May 19, makes her second start of 2012 in the Reminiscing.

Trainer Bob Baffert has two leading contenders in Pink Lollipops and American Lady.

Pink Lollipops was third in the five-furlong Time to Leave Stakes here on May 6.

American Lady was second in an optional claimer over six furlongs on April 5, her first start of 2012.

“She’s training really well,” Baffert said.

The April 5 race was American Lady’s first start since she was eased in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga last summer.