Stakes may be on the horizon for Tales in Excess

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Tales in Excess was favored on Sept. 4 when she scored a convincing maiden race win by 4 1/2 lengths at Del Mar.

Luckily for the partnership that owns the filly and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Tales in Excess makes her second start in an allowance race at Hollywood Park on Thursday, and not in a tougher stakes race.

Chances are Tales in Excess will be running in those races in the near future if her maiden win is an accurate gauge of her ability.

“She ran so well the first time out,” Hollendorfer said. “We were surprised she ran that well, but we knew she could run.”

Thursday, Tales in Excess will be favored against four rivals in a race over 6 1/2 furlongs for 2-year-old fillies. She will be ridden by Joel Rosario, who was aboard for the maiden race win when Tales in Excess led throughout 5 1/2 furlongs, finishing in 1:03.35. Tales in Excess worked quickly through September at Hollywood Park, including a half-mile in 47 seconds on Sept. 12, the fastest at the distance that morning.

“She’s been promising for us,” Hollendorfer said.

Hollendorfer declined to say what he has in mind for Tales in Excess this fall, but a race such as the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes for 2-year-old fillies over seven furlongs on Nov. 21 could be a target.

In Thursday’s race, Tales in Excess faces two other recent maiden race winners and two statebred stakes winners.

Sarah’s Secret and May Day Rose won maiden races over 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 22 and Sept. 4, respectively.

May Day Rose was second to Sarah’s Secret on Aug. 22 and won on Sept. 4 by a half-length. Trained by Bob Baffert, May Day Rose has been favored in both of her starts and will attract attention on Thursday.

Mike Harrington starts the stakes winners Hi Ho Yodeler and Swiss Wild Cat, who compete in the same race for the seventh consecutive time.

Swiss Wild Cat and Hi Ho Yodeler were first and second in the CTBA Stakes at Del Mar on July 23. Hi Ho Yodeler won the Generous Portion Stakes on Sept. 1, with Swiss Wild Cat fourth. In their last starts, Swiss Wild Cat was second in the Phil Shepherd Stakes at Fairplex Park on Sept. 17, while Hi Ho Yodeler was fourth.