Private World triumphs in Moccasin

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Size doesn't matter. True Xena dwarfed the smaller Private World as they charged to the wire in Sunday's $100,000 at Hollywood Park, and even gave her tiny rival a solid bump in the closing yards, but Private World kept her head in front and prevailed by a nose in the seven-furlong stake for 2-year-old fillies.

The victory was the third in as many starts for Private World, who also captured the Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting in October.

"It wasn't easy this time," said winning rider Kent Desormeaux. "She did a very good job to battle on."

Private World ($9.80) battled for the early lead with Bettarun Fast through fractions of 22.47 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.42 seconds for the half. Bettarun Fast then began to fade, but True Xena kept pace while rallying three paths wide. Cotton Bay, the favorite, loomed four paths wide, but flattened out after turning into the lane.

"She was kind of slipping around," said Victor Espinoza, who rode Cotton Bay.

Private World and True Xena were right together the length of the lane. Private World got the best of a head bob at the wire, but had True Xena won, she might have been disqualified. The stewards conducted an inquiry, but correctly ruled the bump was of no matter, since Private World took the worst of it and still won. She was timed in 1:22.39 for seven furlongs on the fast main track.

Catch My Fancy, the second choice, was last in the field of seven.

Bob Hess Jr. trains Private World for Thoroughbred Capital Partners, which is headed by Allen Johnson of Farmington, Utah. The filly is a daughter of Thunder Gulch.