Now healthy, two fillies on the rise

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The injuries that forced Brave Vixen and Del Mar Ticket to the sidelines last year did not slow their careers.

Both fillies were sidelined for most of 2004, but rebounded to run second in recent weeks in their first starts of 2005.

Wednesday, they are the leading contenders in the top race at Hollywood Park, a $51,000 allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on turf for statebred fillies and mares.

have drawn the two outside post positions in a field of six.

Brave Vixen, who has yet to win on turf, may go favored. Wednesday's race marks her second start in the last 16 months. Trained by Gary Mandella, Brave Vixen underwent surgery to have a bone chip removed from an ankle in early 2004.

She was entered to run at Hollywood Park in December, but was scratched when a race was taken off turf because of poor conditions. Brave Vixen missed the Santa Anita meeting because of quarter cracks.

"The rain ate her feet alive," Mandella said.

Brave Vixen finally made her comeback on May 6. She rallied from third to finish a neck behind Mercedes Dancer in a race at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

"I was thrilled," Mandella said of the performance. "I thought she ran gutty."

Brave Vixen has a chance for an excellent trip on Wednesday. She is expected to stalk Cambriocorsa, who drew the rail and has ample speed.

Trained by Doug O'Neill, Cambriocorsa has made two starts. She was last of 12 in a maiden race at Del Mar last summer, and returned at Santa Anita on April 15 to win a sprint on the hillside turf course by three lengths. Wednesday's allowance race marks the longest start of her career.

Two to Get Ready, a 3-year-old who is winless in her last seven starts, also has speed.

Del Mar Ticket is by Bertrando, the sire of Kresgeville, who won Sunday's Manhattan Beach Handicap on turf.

Trained by Ron Ellis, Del Mar Ticket was beaten a length in a one-mile allowance race for statebred fillies at Santa Anita on April 15. She beat maidens on turf over this course in May 2004 and finished third in an allowance race three weeks later before being sidelined.

Ellis was impressed with Del Mar Ticket's comeback. She made up 13 lengths in the last half-mile.

"It was a pretty good run," Ellis said. "She should move forward. She's had enough time off that."