Hollywood Park: Sarach displays new tactics to take Honeymoon Handicap

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Sarach went to the lead for the first time in her career in Saturday’s $150,750 Honeymoon Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park, a strategy that proved to be the winning move in the Grade 2 race for 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Sarach ($18) led by as much as a length on the backstretch and maintained that advantage in the stretch to win by a length over Scarlet Strike, the 4-5 favorite. Sarach set a modest pace of 24.09 and 48.28 seconds and finished in 1:48.73.

Throughout the race, Garcia said he was confident that Sarach had enough in reserve to win the first major race of her career.

“The main [thing] was to let her get out of the gate,” Garcia said. “She wants to be right there. No one wanted the lead.

“After that, she showed what she can do. It was an easy pace and I took advantage of that.”

The Honeymoon Handicap was Sarach’s first start since she finished fifth behind Scarlet Strike in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita on April 6. Sarach carried 116 pounds in the Honeymoon Handicap, six less than topweight Scarlet Strike, who was second in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes here on May 11.

Macha, second to Sarach for the first mile, faded to finish third in the Honeymoon, beaten 1 1/2 lengths. Scarlet Strike and Macha are trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.

Becky Lou overcame a bumping incident in the stretch to finish fourth. She was followed by Charlie Em, Somethingabouther, Wittengenstein, and Kyriaki.

Sarach is a filly by Arch who races for Alain and Gerard Wertheimer. Trained by Richard Mandella, Sarach has won 3 of 8 starts and $168,742.

Kinz Funky Monkey pulls surprise in Manhattan Beach

Kinz Funky Monkey scored an upset win in Saturday’s $73,600 Manhattan Beach Stakes, leading throughout the six-furlong turf race for 3-year-old fillies.

Kinz Funky Monkey is the first stakes winner for the Florida-based stallion The Green Monkey, who is best known for being purchased for $16 million at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Calder 2-year-olds in-training sale.

Raced by Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, The Green Monkey was winless in three starts for trainer Todd Pletcher in 2007. The Green Monkey is by Forestry out of the Unbridled mare Magical Masquerade.

Kinz Funky Monkey ($33.20), ridden by Victor Espinoza, was timed in 1:09.44, finishing a half-length in front of 7-5 favorite Judy In Disguise. Upbeat Mood, a 5-1 chance, finished third in the field of eight.

Kinz Funky Monkey races for Rocco Aceto’s Always Believe, Inc., and is trained by Peter Eurton. The Manhattan Beach Stakes was her first start since winning a maiden race at Del Mar last summer.