Honeymoon J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A field of nine has been entered in Saturday's $175,000 Honeymoon H. (G2) at

Hollywood Park, including the top four and sixth-place finishers from the

Senorita S. (G3). While our top choice is coming out of that race, we're not

picking the Senorita winner.

BEL AIR SIZZLE (Unusual Heat) was not only third in the Senorita, she also

filled that position when taking on the top two in the Providencia S. (G2),

MISSIT (Ire) (Orpen) and SWEETER STILL (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]),

respectively. The latter miss returned to take the Senorita, with MAGICAL

FANTASY (Diesis [GB]) second, but both of those races were at a mile on the

turf. Bel Air Sizzle will finally get the opportunity to turn the tables on all

those rivals while stretching out to nine grassy furlongs here. The Barry Abrams

charge captured her maiden going 1 1/8 miles, and also was a 2 3/4-length

allowance winner at 1 1/16 miles in between those two stakes. This may be her

turn to visit the winner's circle, and Rafael Bejarano will be taking up the

reins. Note that she's cross-entered to Sunday's Hollywood Oaks (G2), but given

the respective riding assignments, the Honeymoon looks to be the preferred

target for Bel Air Sizzle.

MISTY OCEAN (Stormy Atlantic) may also like the nine furlongs in this event.

The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained sophomore has scored in her past two tries on the

turf, winning by a total nine lengths. One of those came in the 1 1/16-mile

Golden Poppy S. while she was making her stakes debut, and she may continue to

improve in her graded bow here. Misty Ocean is taking a step up for the

Honeymoon, but could fill out the exacta at a price. Joel Rosario has the call.

Missit made her first start past seven furlongs in the Providencia while also

making her U.S. debut. She was successful on that day and could continue that

form while stretching out here. However, we're willing to take a stand against

for the win as the Ben Cecil trainee will be returning off a two-month break in

her second stateside try. We're not willing, though, to leave her out of the top

three, so include in all gimmicks with Victor Espinoza aboard.

Sweeter Still is another who should be considered for the exotics. The Jeff

Mullins-trained three-year-old earned her first stakes score in the China Doll

S., then just missed by a nose in the Providencia. She gained a measure of

revenge when taking the Senorita but, like Missit, must stretch out an extra

eighth here. Regular rider Martin Garcia will be in the saddle.

Magical Fantasy was second by a nose in the Senorita in her U.S. bow last out

and has been working well over Hollywood's turf since then. She could step up to

grab a piece of the top three under Alex Solis. GORGEOUS GOOSE (Mongoose) broke

her maiden then immediately added a first stakes win in the Blue Norther S. She

could earn a share but isn't likely to get into the gimmicks after running

fourth in the Providencia and sixth in the Senorita.

The remaining three are all cross-entered to the Hollywood Oaks. LETHAL HEAT

(Unusual Heat) suffered her first career loss when third by five lengths in the

seven-furlong Railbird S. (G3) last out and may not be able to last in this one.

DIVINE LEGACY (Full Mandate) ran fourth in the Senorita while making her turf

debut, so we'll give her another try on the green before backing. FIRE N'

BRIMSTONE (Pulpit) has finished in the top three in her past four races, but

will be making her stakes bow in a tough spot. We'll watch to see how she

handles the class jump.