Onebadkitty to give it another try
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The fifth race at Hollywood Park on Friday marks the 2008 debut of Onebadkitty, take two.
Last month at Santa Anita, Onebadkitty was in the starting gate when she became upset and was scratched. Onebadkitty has been schooled in the starting gate since then, leaving trainer Brian Koriner hopeful that Friday's race will not be a repeat of last month's debacle.
"She's a nervous filly," Koriner said. "She's been schooled quite a bit. Hopefully that's what she needed."
Onebadkitty will make her fourth start, and turf debut, in Friday's fifth race, an optional claimer over six furlongs for California-bred fillies and mares. Onebadkitty has 1 victory in 3 starts, a maiden race last November. She later finished second in the California Breeders' Champion Stakes at Santa Anita in late December before being turned out.
"She's been training very good, and she's been sound," Koriner said. "We can't wait to get her campaign started."
The switch to a different surface does not concern Koriner.
"If she continues to do good, the race didn't come up too tough, our expectations are to win," Koriner said.
Onebadkitty is one of seven entered in Friday's race, and she is not the only one returning from a lengthy layoff. Waveline, a California-bred who began her career in England, will be making her first start since finishing fourth in an optional claimer on the main track here last December.
Trained by Ben Cecil, Waveline is one of three in the field with a win on turf. Waveline won a maiden race in Bath, England, in May 2007.
Ms Toomsuba won a starter allowance over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita last month in her debut on grass. Princess Integrity won a starter allowance on the hillside turf course last April, but is winless in four subsequent starts on turf.
Burna Dette will be making her turf debut. Trained by Peter Eurton, Burna Dette won a maiden race for California-breds at Santa Anita on Oct. 19.
Ms Toomsuba and Belleacton are likely to set the pace. Belleacton won a six-furlong maiden race at Fairplex Park on Sept. 7 in her seventh start, but returned eight days later to finish last of 10 in an optional claimer over 6 1/2 furlongs at that track.