Hollywood Park: Te Rapa always tries hard for Stra

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Te Rapa and jockey Kayla Stra have been a potent combination in Southern California since the summer.

Stra, who turned 29 on Tuesday, has scored 3 of her 20 victories this year on Te Rapa. He has not been favored in any of those wins, since Del Mar in mid-July, but has won convincingly. Te Rapa may not be favored again when he makes his 11th start of 2013 in a third-level optional $80,000 claimer at Betfair Hollywood Park on Friday.

Te Rapa drew the outside post in a competitive field of seven going a mile on turf. Trained by Howard Zucker, Te Rapa can win consecutive races for the first time this year. On Nov. 9, Te Rapa closed from sixth in a field of seven to win an optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Hollywood Park.

The style of the win was consistent with Te Rapa’s victories this year, closing from off the pace to take the lead in the final furlong. Stra, a native of Australia, has ridden Te Rapa in the 5-year-old gelding’s last six starts, which includes 3 wins, a second, and 2 thirds.

“We’ll have to play it as goes,” Stra said. “You always think, don’t get there too early.

“I always hope for a clean run and he impresses me. My secret is talking to him. Last time at the half-mile pole, I said, ‘Come on boy,’ and he grabbed the bit.”

Stra’s current season win total is well short of the 54 wins she had in 2010, while riding mostly at Golden Gate Fields. This year, her mounts have earned $722,598, one of her best seasons in that category.

Stra took most of last year off to give birth to a son, Brys Headley, in November 2012. She waited until the start of this year to resume exercising horses and returned to riding Jan. 19.

Friday, Te Rapa has several formidable rivals.

El Commodore was third in the Lure Stakes at Santa Anita and is entered for an $80,000 claiming price. Batti Man, also entered for $80,000, was third in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in July.

Empty Headed won an allowance race on turf at Hollywood Park on Nov. 17. The lightly raced Dubai You XYZ, a five-time winner, is a danger in his first start since May.