Star Parade starts and finishes in front

Jockey Martin Pedroza guided Star Parade to the lead in the first furlong of Sunday's $100,000 Hawthorne Handicap at Hollywood Park and used that advantage to give the mare her sixth stakes win.

Star Parade won the Grade 3 Hawthorne by 1 3/4 lengths over Hollywood Story, covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.26. It was Star Parade's second stakes win of the year, to go with the Grade 1 Santa Maria Handicap at Santa Anita.

Pedroza hustled Star Parade to the front and set fractions of 23.59 and 47.02 seconds, leading by a length over Healthy Addiction. On the final turn, Healthy Addiction faded, leaving Star Parade and Hollywood Story clear with a furlong remaining. Healthy Addiction finished third in the field of five.

The stretch run was not without controversy. Star Parade drifted to the inside, toward the path of Hollywood Story, in the final furlong, but the stewards made no inquiry.

Star Parade, 7, has won 9 of 31 starts and $1,160,419. Owned by Gary Tanaka and trained by Darrell Vienna, she will be pointed for the Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap on June 3.