Pure Fun, a Kentucky-shipper sent off at odds of 6-1, unleashed a spectacular rally in the Hollywood Park homestretch to win the $500,000 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I) on December 8th by one length.
With jockey Garrett Gomez aboard, Pure Fun was content to settle back in last place early on, some thirteen lengths behind pace-setting Blonde Fog, who led the way through fractions of :23.63, :47.33, and 1:12.47. Longshot Rhodium was racing on the outside in second, followed along the inside by odds-on favorite Executiveprivilege. Renee's Titan was directly to the favorite's outside in fourth, followed by a gap of about three lengths to Miss Empire. Scarlet Strike and Midnight Ballet were next, with Pure Fun six lengths behind them.
Rounding the final turn, Executiveprivilege shifted to the outside for a clear run at Blonde Fog and appeared to be capable of taking the lead, but Blonde Fog had something left in the tank, turning back the challenge and opening up a commanding advantage in mid-stretch. But by this time, Pure Fun had begun her rally, rocketing past horses on the far outside as if she were just getting started. With massive strides, she blew past Executiveprivilege and set her sights on Blonde Fog, reeling in the pacesetter with a sixteenth of a mile to go and coasting home much the best to win by a length.
The final time for 1 1/16th miles was 1:44.65 seconds. Blonde Fog finished second, two lengths clear of Scarlet Strike. Executiveprivilege tired without any apparent excuse to finish fourth, while Midnight Ballet, Renee's Titan, Miss Empire, and Rhodium completed the order of finish.
The winner is trained by Kenny McPeek and owned by Magdalena Racing. A daughter of Pure Prize, Pure Fun has now won three races on three different surfaces -- dirt, turf, and Cushion Track. All told, her record stands at 3-1-1 from 8 starts, with earnings of $343,599.
-Keelerman
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