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Iotapa, Ciao Bella Luna meet again in Hollywood Oaks

A winner in three of four starts, Iotapa is seeking her first graded victory (Benoit Photo) The seven-furlong Railbird Stakes on May 19 serves as a key prep for Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Hollywood Oaks, with top two finishers Iotapa and Ciao Bella Luna highlighting a short field of five in the 1 1/16-mile contest. Iotapa, who was claimed for $50,000 from a winning debut last June at Hollywood, returned from a lengthy layoff with an optional claiming win at Santa Anita in mid-February and then sustained her first setback with a respectable second to Beholder in the Santa Anita Oaks on April 6, finishing one spot better than subsequent Black-Eyed Susan winner Fiftyshadesofhay. The daughter of Afleet Alex cutback in trip for the Railbird and posted a comfortable 1 1/4-length score as the 7-5 favorite. Trained by John Sadler, who captured the 2010 and 2011 editions with Switch and Zazu, Iotapa will retain the services of Joe Talamo.

Ciao Bella Luna will look to improve upon her Railbird effort after getting off to a tardy beginning and closing belatedly for runner-up honors. The sophomore daughter of Tribal Rule did not show much when making her first start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in the March 9 China Doll on turf, but the bay lass stamped herself as one to watch when shipping to Keeneland for a convincing score in the Grade 2 Beaumont on April 14. Corey Nakatani has the assignment.

Hollendorfer will also send out Doinghardtimeagain, who exits a pair of victories over California-bred rivals in the Melair and Evening Jewel. The dark bay filly possesses a three for three mark on the Cushion Track and the services of Rafael Bejarano.

Ondine will look to stretch her win skein to three while making her stakes debut for Bob Baffert, taking an April 12 maiden special weight event at Santa Anita and a May 11 entry-level allowance at Hollywood, and recent maiden winner Unbridled Wee rounds out the field.

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