Pink Pajamas seeks form reversal in Larkspur Handicap

It takes a lot to beat Pink Pajamas, Michigan’s 2016 Horse of the Year, at Hazel Park.

It’s happened just once in six starts, and the filly will aim to extend her run on top at her home oval Friday in the $20,000 Larkspur Handicap.

Pink Pajamas returns to the friendly confines of the Detroit-area track for the first time in her 2017 campaign to contest the six-furlong race, and she will face nine Michigan-bred opponents.

The Equality filly bullied her statebred sophomore contemporaries last year, winning the Regret Stakes by 12 1/4 lengths, getting promoted to first in an allowance against older foes, thrashing a 3-year-old allowance field by 10 lengths, and finally cementing her resume with a 13 3/4-length dismantling of her division in the Michigan Sire Stakes.

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However, Pink Pajamas has had trouble taking her show on the road following her Sire Stakes win. She began her 2017 campaign at Arlington Park and finished last in her seasonal debut May 29 in an optional claimer around one turn on turf. She was once again a well-beaten last in her most recent start, a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer that was taken off the turf.

Regular rider T.D. Houghton reunites with Pink Pajamas for the Larkspur. Robert Gorham trains the filly for Mast Thoroughbreds.

Another filly with a strong track record at Hazel Park is High Legend, who has won 6 of 8 in Michigan and never finished out of the money.

The daughter of Elusive Hour has not been defeated this year, taking three straight at Hazel Park to kick off the meet. The latest of those wins came June 16 when the front-runner took a 5 1/2-furlong allowance. Her first two races of the season, both sprints at the $8,000 claiming level, were won by margins of 6 1/2 lengths or more.

High Legend has clashed with Pink Pajamas on three occasions. She won their first meeting, the 2-year-old fillies division of the 2015 Sire Stakes, but dropped the next two, including a second in last year’s Regret.

Trainer James Jackson will give apprentice Melissa Zajac the leg-up aboard High Legend in the Larkspur. The filly races as a homebred for Jim and Martha Fortney’s Elkhorn Oaks.

Also entered is Valid Offer, last year’s Larkspur winner and Michigan-bred older female of the year.

The daughter of Valid Trefaire’s record has been hit or miss since last year’s renewal, but she comes in on a high note, last winning a six-furlong $8,000 claimer on June 23 by 1 1/2 lengths in a forwardly-placed effort.

Felicia Campbell trains Valid Offer for Volar Corporation. Angel Stanley retains the mount.