Harmonious reappears in Royal Heroine

Over the Fourth of July weekend in 2010, HARMONIOUS (Dynaformer) joined the

big leagues with a victory in the American Oaks (G1) at Hollywood Park. One year

after that powerful stakes debut, the John Shirreffs filly seeks to kick-start

her career anew in Monday's $150,000

Royal Heroine Mile (G2) over the same turf course.

Unlike last summer, when Harmonious was definitely on the upswing, this time

she enters off a nearly five-month layoff, and bids to halt a three-race losing

streak. Following her imperious conquest in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

(G1) at Keeneland last October, she suffered her worst career defeat when 10th

in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Harmonious returned in the Robert J. Frankel S. (G2) on New Year's Day at

Santa Anita, where she was compromised by a dawdling early pace and rallied late

to miss by a nose. Next experimenting with dirt in the February 13 La Canada S.

(G2), Harmonious failed to sparkle on the new surface and finished a tiring

third, well beaten by both Always a Princess and Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision).

WILD MIA (Wildcat Heir) used to show early foot for Tom Proctor, but the gray

has been reserved off the pace in her last three outings. Making her Hollywood

debut in the course-and-distance prep, the June 5 Redondo Beach S., she closed

from near the back to deny ANDINA (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) by a neck. Monday's

pace might not be quite so hot, however, and it wouldn't be a total shock to see

Wild Mia keep tabs on Celtic Princess early.

GIVINE (Fr) (Blackdoun [Fr]) should produce a striking change of gear late.

The Julio Canani filly flew to catch Separate Forest (Forestry) by a half-length

in the six-furlong Great Lady M. S. here, and is entitled to enjoy the added

ground. Givine was mostly campaigned at a mile in her native France, winning

four times and twice placing in stakes versus useful foes. Moreover, Canani has

said that Givine reminds him of her sire, Blackdoun (Fr), whom he trained to

sweep the 2004 Del Mar Derby (G2), La Jolla H. (G2) and Oceanside S. Joe Talamo

picks up the mount aboard the up-and-comer.