Hollywood Park: Wild Mia survives inquiry in Redondo Beach

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Wild Mia, making her California debut, won her first stakes in nearly 19 months in Sunday’s $75,100 Redondo Beach Stakes at Hollywood Park, but she had to survive an inquiry regarding the stretch run.

Wild Mia ($14) finished a neck in front of Andina, who finished three-quarters of a length in front of Tanda, the 9-5 favorite and early pacesetter. Talktoomuch finished fourth but was forced to take up in the stretch under jockey Joe Talamo when Andina drifted to the outside and into Talktoomuch’s path.

The inquiry initially focused on the running of the first four finishers, but Wild Mia was quickly absolved of any responsibility for the incident involving Talktoomuch. After further review, stewards Luis Jauregui, Kim Sawyer, and Tom Ward ruled that Talktoomuch did not lose a chance at a better placing when she was checked in the final sixteenth. (Jauregui, an associate steward, was substituting for regular steward Scott Chaney, who was absent Sunday).

Wild Mia, ridden by David Flores, ran a mile on turf in 1:34.65. It was her first win since an allowance race at Keeneland last fall. A 4-year-old filly by Wildcat Heir, Wild Mia races for Rosemont Stud Syndicate and trainer Tom Proctor. She has won 4 of 12 starts and $228,174.

Wild Mia won the John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf at Calder in November 2009 when trained by Pete Anderson. In April, Wild Mia was second in the Turf Distaff Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, a performance followed by an eighth in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard.