Madame Pietra wins Corona Handicap

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A perfect trip in Sunday's $73,210 Corona Handicap at Hollywood Park gave Madame Pietra her third stakes win of 2002.

Ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, Madame Pietra stalked pacesetter Wild Tickle on the backstretch, reached contention in early stretch and pulled clear under a handride. The 5-year-old Madame Pietra ($4.80) ran six furlongs in 1:09.17.

Owned by Carl Grether and trained by Howard Zucker, Madame Pietra finished 2 1-2 lengths in front of Habibti, who was a half-length in front of Wild Tickle. Channing Way finished fourth, followed by Se Me Acabo and Rollette.

Earlier this year, Madame Pietra won the Soviet Problem Handicap at Golden Gate Fields and Cascapedia Handicap at Santa Anita. Zucker said she will be pointed for the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint over six furlongs for California-breds and Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25.

"She's best at six furlongs and I don't want to change anything," Zucker said.