Star Billing – the one to watch out for in the American Oaks as rest of the field fills up in hope
John A Shirreffs trained three-year-old bay filly, Star Billing, was the runner-up in the American Grade 2 $150,000 Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood Park on 11 June.
After finishing just a little short of the 9 furlongs event, Star Billing sets her eyes on the Grade 1 $250,000 at Hollywood Park turf on 16 July.
The ability to mount the distance at American Oaks is the key, as Star Billing gears herself for the 1 ¼ mile event to face the out of state invader, Bizzy Caroline.
The three-year-old dark brown filly, Bizzy Caroline, is trained by Kenneth G. Mc Peek for owner Catesby W. Clay.
Bizzy Caroline is coming off an emphatic win at Churchill Downs in the Grade Three 1 1/8 mile Regret Stakes.
Last year’s American Oaks was won by trainer John A. Shirreffs with Harmonious, while in present year Shirreffs focus is on George Krikorian’s Star Billing and the stakes race debutant, Nereid, owned by E.N. Kronfeld.
Star Billing couldn’t keep up to pace with her rival Sarah’s Secret in the Honeymoon Handicap on 11 June, eventually suffering her first loss in the dark brown filly’s three-year racing career.
The daughter of Dynaformer, kept plugging away and pressed the leader and the pace setter, Sarah’s Secret, but couldn’t match strides and was beaten by the 19 to 10 favourite by half a length.
Star Billing’s first race was her maiden race debut, as she defeated her rival by 2 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita on the hillside grass course over a distance of 6 ½ furlongs .
Prior to the Honeymoon Handicap, Star Billing also ran at Hollywood turf and won the 1 mile event in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes, springing an 8 to 1 upset and winning by nearly three lengths.
Jockey Joel Rosario is responsible for the two fantastic wins for the filly.
Joel Rosario will be the filly’s rouse at Hollywood Park, and the pair will break from post number 5.
John A Shirreffs second filly to participate in the American Oaks will be Nereid, who has nicely developed into a good horse as she won the first level allowance one miler by a significant 1 ½ lengths on 2 June at Hollywood turf.
Nereid broke her maiden by a nose on Hollywood lawn as the daughter of Rock Hard Ten will test her mettle yet again in the American Oaks.
The Grade 1 American Oaks will include a total of six three-year-old fillies, to run over a distance of 1 ¼ miles on a turf track. All of the entrants will carry a weight of 121 pounds.
It is quite evident that the Alex Afleet miss, Bizzy Caroline, will be the filly to watch out at Hollywood, and that she might repeat the destructive performance in the Regret Stakes as she did last time around
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