Little siblings of stars debut

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The second race Wednesday at Hollywood Park may only be a maiden race, but it brings the career debut of two very promising fillies.

Tamara Princess, a 3-year-old full sister to Riboletta, the champion older mare of 2000, faces Double Cat, a half-sister to 2000 Breeders' Cup Mile winner War Chant, over 6 1/2 furlongs.

Both are making their first starts against a field that includes two other first-time starters - Stormscape and It's My Secret - and two fillies who have yet to hit the board - Bright Idea and Bashful Belle.

Tamara Princess has been with trainer Eduardo Inda for nearly a year. Purchased privately by Aaron and Marie Jones, who own Riboletta, Tamara Princess was held out of racing because she is a late foal. Bred in Brazil, she was born in July 1998 - the start of the Southern Hemisphere breeding season - and is just now 3 years old.

"She was only 2 when she showed up," Inda said.

Riboletta, who is in training with Inda at Santa Anita for a Del Mar comeback, is massive, and so is her kid sister. Tamara Princess is also quick. She had the fastest workout of the day at Santa Anita on April 24 and on June 4, and has worked steadily in the last three weeks at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. She will be ridden by Mike Smith.

"I think she should run very good," Inda said. "She's been training good for a long time. I wanted to run long right away."

Double Cat has an equally impressive family. Her dam, Hollywood Wildcat, won the 1993 Breeders' Cup Distaff, the year she was named champion 3-year-old filly, and her sire, Storm Cat, is one of the top stallions in the world.

Double Cat will be ridden by Gary Stevens, who rode War Chant to victories in the Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita and the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.

Double Cat is trained by Neil Drysdale, who also trained Hollywood Wildcat and War Chant for owners Marje and Irving Cowan. Although she has not worked as fast as Tamara Princess, Double Cat has worked steadily in recent weeks, but shows a few gaps in her recorded workouts. She was up to seven furlongs in February, but had a month between works from mid-April to mid-May and from late May to June 21.

"She's more similar to her mother than War Chant," Drysdale said. "It's a long haul and it's just her first race."