Hollywood Starlet Stakes Results and Analysis

by Patricia Woo | Dec 13 2010

Eight juvenile fillies contested the $300,000 Gr. 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes on Saturday, Dec. 11 at Hollywood Park. And it was 11-10 favorite Turbulent Descent who ended her 2010 campaign on a high note as she scored a victory in the 1 1/16 mile race.

Nina Fever went straight to the front of the pack after the break, while the duo of Turbulent Descent and regular jockey David Flores had to contend with a less-than-ideal break. Turbulent Descent did not lose much ground, however, finding a stalking position mid-pack. May Day Rose, with Rafael Bejarano aboard, chased the leader in second while Big Tiz and Patrick Valenzuela followed in third.

As the field entered the turn, May Day Rose made her bid for the lead and overtook Nina Fever. But Flores and Turbulent Descent, who had found a path along the inside in fourth, were calculating their own move. Leaving the final turn, Turbulent Descent went three-wide, while Big Tiz went wider still. The two vied for the lead till mid-stretch, when Turbulent Descent began to pull away. Her advantage had widened to 1 ¼ lengths when she hit the wire first in a winning time of 1:44.18, with Big Tiz in second.

Tell a Kelly, under Joel Rosario, showed an incredible closing kick to snatch third away from May Day Rose after spending most of the race bringing up the rear; she very nearly stole runner-up from a tiring Big Tiz.

May Day Rose rounded out the top four, and was followed by Zazu, True Way of Grace, Nina Fever and Luna Grande.

Turbulent Descent, trained by Mike Puype, notched her first grade 1 victory with her Hollywood Starlet Stakes win as well as $245,550 for owners Blinkers on Racing Stable – her graded stakes total for 2010 tops out at $328,350. The win is also her third in a row at Hollywood Park; her other victories include her maiden-breaking race on Oct. 3 and the Moccasin Stakes on Nov. 21.

A daughter of Congrats, Turbulent Descent will be a filly to watch in the build-up to the 2011 Kentucky Oaks. According to Puype, she will likely turn up next on the newly installed dirt surface at Santa Anita Park for the Gr. 1 Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 5 for her first test on a surface other than Cushion Track.

"[Turbulent Descent] won just as easily as she did the other two times," Puype commented after the race. "No question about it, she's very impressive. It was another perfect ride. David's done real well with her. We'll give her a little break right now and she'll show up in about two months.''

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