Oilgonewile won't be shy about leading

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Oilgonewile carved out a niche in south Florida turf races last fall and winter. She set a quick pace and held on as long as possible. The running style led to two stakes wins and placings in two other stakes.

Oilgonewile will make her first start for trainer Mike Mitchell in Friday's $100,000 Flawlessly Stakes at Hollywood Park. Mitchell is not about to make any strategy adjustments. Oilgonewile has drawn the rail in the one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies, and Mitchell wants her in front.

"She seems like she's speed on speed," Mitchell said. "We'll let her roll. I won't take her back."

Oilgonewile was third in the Boynton Beach Stakes over a mile on turf at Gulfstream Park in April, her most recent start. She led to early stretch and was beaten three lengths.

In the Flawlessly, Oilgonewile will be ridden by Joe Talamo, who must conserve some of the filly's speed for the stretch, when she is certain to be tested by some of her 11 rivals.

The Flawlessly is an intriguing betting race that includes five stakes winners and two fillies who have been stakes placed.

Strawberry Tart, who won the Manhattan Beach Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over six furlongs on turf June 5, will be starting at a mile for the first time. Trained by Jeff Bonde, she has won 3 of 5 starts. In the Manhattan Beach, she closed from seventh in a field of eight to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

Mitchell trains the runner-up in that race, Jehan, who will be attempting to win the longest race of her career in the Flawlessly. "She seems like a mile will be right her alley the way she trains," Mitchell said.

Oilgonewile could have company on the front from Burg Berg, a three-time winner trained by Paco Gonzalez, and Starlarks, who ended a five-race losing streak with a front-running win in an optional claimer over a mile on turf on May 30.

Earlier this year, Starlarks had three troubled trips during the Santa Anita meeting, with a third on April 16 her best result.

"It's a big step up," trainer Paddy Gallagher said of Friday's race.

Dash Dot Dash, who won two stakes at Fairplex Park last fall, and Pretty Unusual, the winner of the Melair Stakes in April, also start. Pretty Unusual is also invited to Sunday's $700,000 American Oaks.