Taro primed to fire off long break

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Taro should win her first start in 10 months in Saturday's $70,000 Warren's Thoroughbred Stakes at Hollywood Park.

"If she doesn't, I'll be very disappointed," trainer Clifford Sise said on Thursday. "I think she's a very good filly."

Taro won her debut by 3 1/4 lengths in a five-furlong maiden race for 2-year-old statebred fillies last June, but missed the Del Mar meeting because of a tibia injury. Owned by breeders Marty and Pam Wygod, Taro, by Bertrando, is a full sister to Liberian Freighter, a multiple stakes winner of $416,130 who starts in Saturday's $150,000 Tiznow Stakes.

Taro has been trained aggressively for her comeback. Sise said he wanted her to be prepared not only for her return, but first start over seven furlongs and first start against older fillies and mares.

"Seven-eighths is perfect for her," he said. "The longer, the better."

The Warren's Thoroughbreds Stakes is one of four races on Saturday's California Gold Rush program restricted to California-breds who are eligible for first-condition allowances or are maidens. The Warren's Thoroughbred Stakes, for fillies and mares that are eligible for a first-condition allowance race, has drawn a field of 14, the largest field on Saturday's 10-race program.

Taro's main rivals appear to be Blame the Wine and Initial Impression, who were first and third in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on April 8. Blame the Wine was claimed for $25,000 in that race by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Saturday's program begins with the $60,000 Alphabet Kisses Stakes for maiden fillies and mares over 6 1/2 furlongs. The race drew just six runners, including Money Lover and Sibersky, who were second and third in a maiden race on March 31.

Uncle Don, the easy winner of two six-furlong sprints at Santa Anita in March, will attempt to extend his winning streak in the second race, the $70,000 Grey Memo Stakes over seven furlongs for horses eligible for a first- condition allowance race.

In the day's final race, the $60,000 NTRA Stakes for maiden colts and geldings over 6 1/2 furlongs, Intuitive Nature will be favored in a field of 11. He was beaten a nose in his debut at Santa Anita on April 1.