Moonless Sky capable of winning Solana Beach Stakes with no help

DEL MAR, Calif. – Technically, Moonless Sky is a stakes winner. She was promoted from second to first in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes at Santa Anita in May after Pacific Heat was disqualified for causing interference in the stretch.

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On Friday, Moonless Sky has a chance to claim a stakes win without a shred of controversy when she starts from the rail in the $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar.

Owned by Pappas Racing and trained by Eddie Truman, Moonless Sky is part of a competitive field of eight.

“There’s no standout,” Truman said. “It’s who gets the best trip. Hopefully, we’ll be the one.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Moonless Sky, by Bold Chieftain

Last 3 Beyers: 82-87-85

◗ Moonless Sky won four consecutive starts after joining Truman’s stable last winter, including the Fran’s Valentine. Moonless Sky was fourth, beaten a length, in an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf here July 19. The first two finishers of that race – Shestheritestuff and How Unusual – are part of the Solana Beach field.

“I think the shorter trip will help her compared to last time,” Truman said. “In retrospect, she got beat a length. I wonder if I should have run her.

“She could be fresher, but it would have been two months off, and she’s not a good work horse.”

◗ Truman said the rail draw should not hinder Moonless Sky, who races from off the pace and will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux.

“She’s been a sweetheart, and Kent knows her so well,” Truman said. “He can adjust.”

◗ The one rival Truman fears is Majestic Heat, who won the 2016 Solana Beach Stakes but has not raced since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita last November.

“If she’d had a race, we’d be running for second,” he said.

Majestic Heat, by Unusual Heat

Last 3 Beyers: 90-92-91

◗ Majestic Heat was turned out following the Goldikova. A 5-year-old, Majestic Heat has trained well in recent weeks, trainer Richard Mandella said.

“She’s come back faster than I thought she would,” Mandella said. “She stepped right up.”

A winner of 4 of 11 starts, Majestic Heat won the Solana Beach in her second start last year. Mandella said he’s slightly concerned that Majestic Heat comes into this year’s race off a nine-month layoff.

“She was ready and had a race, so I don’t know,” Mandella said.

Starlite Style, by Unusual Heat

Last 3 Beyers: 79-78-78

◗ The Solana Beach will be a class test for Starlite Style, who has won three consecutive races since late April. Trained by Hector Palma, Starlite Style won an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf against open company at Santa Anita in June in her last start.

◗ This will be Starlite Style’s first stakes appearance since a fourth as a maiden in the Campanile Stakes for 3-year-old California-bred fillies at Golden Gate Fields in May 2016.