Sweet Way's second try at first start

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Sweet Way makes her first start in Wednesday's fifth race at Hollywood Park, but she has already had an eventful meeting this summer.

On June 18, Sweet Way was kicked by a pony in the post parade a few minutes before a seven-furlong maiden race. She was vanned off after the incident, but suffered only a bruise between the hock and stifle of her left rear leg, trainer John Shirreffs said.

"She was very fortunate," Shirreffs said. "It didn't break the skin."

Owned by Marty and Pam Wygod, Sweet Way appears to have rebounded quickly. She has worked twice since being scratched, going five furlongs in 1:01.80 on June 28 and six furlongs in 1:14 on July 5, the fastest of six recorded works at the distance.

is well-regarded by Shirreffs, whose stable has done well with first-time starters. A 3-year-old, Sweet Way is by leading sire Giant's Causeway out of Sweet Life, the dam of Sweet Catomine, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2004.

In Wednesday's race at 1 1/16 miles, Sweet Way will be ridden by Alex Solis and breaks from post 4 in a field of seven 3- and 4-year-old fillies.

Shirreffs said Sweet Way is well suited to the distance of Wednesday's race.

"I think two turns will be okay," he said. "She has not shown a lot of speed in the morning. She does things so easily because she has such a long stride. I hope it pays dividends in the afternoon."

Sweet Way must beat , who is winless after seven starts but did run a game second here on May 12, and Wildout, who is winless after 11 starts. She was second in her last start on June 15.

makes her first start around two turns after finishing second in the race that Sweet Way was supposed to have started in on June 18.

Wednesday's fifth race, a $46,000 maiden race, is the most lucrative event on an eight-race program that lacks a stakes or an allowance race.

Wednesday's final race is a $45,000 maiden race for 2-year-old statebred fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs. Prenuptial, a $150,000 purchase at the Barretts March sale of 2-year-olds in training earlier this year, makes her second start. Trained by Ben Cecil, she was a troubled sixth in a maiden race here on May 24.