INGLEWOOD, Calif. (April 20, 2008) - Colina Verde, winner of the Brazilian Oaks two years ago, will attempt to win for the second time in three U.S. starts in the $100,000 Wilshire Handicap on Wednesday as Hollywood Park opens its 70th anniversary meeting.
The 5-year-old Brazilian-bred won her U.S. debut at the Wilshire distance of one mile in February, then finished out of the money in the Grade II Santa Ana Handicap at 1 1/8 miles in March.
Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale has given the call on Colina Verde to jockey Joel Rosario in the Wilshire, a Grade III turf event which drew a contentious field of ten fillies and mares. The field lines up as follows from the rail out:
Shermeen, with Brice Blanc up, carries 114 pounds; Honored Gold, Tyler Baze, 113; Colina Verde, Rosario, 116; Kris' Sis, Michael Baze, 115; La Tee, Martin Garcia, 114; Gentle Gale, Rafael Bejarano, 112; Star of Whitney, Jon Court, 114; Unspoken Word, Mike Smith, 114; Macadamia, Joseph Talamo, 113, and Diamond Diva, David Flores, 117.
Colina Verde, unraced at four, won her final four starts in Brazil as a 3-year-old and enters the Wilshire with five wins in her last six starts. She is five-of-nine overall for earnings of $100,112.
Kris' Sis, a winner of four of 14 starts and $266,755, has faced graded company in her last three starts, finishing third in September in the Palomar Handicap at Del Mar, third in the Buena Vista in February at Santa Anita and fifth in the Santa Ana.
Diamond Diva will try to make it two straight wins since arriving in North America. Trainer Jim Cassidy sent out the 4-year-old Great Britain-bred to win the one-mile American Beauty Handicap on turf in her first U.S. start on March 30 at Santa Anita. She is four-for-13 overall for earnings of $181,323.
Trainer Kathy Walsh is hoping for a cleaner trip for Irish-bred Shermeen, who was steadied while finishing eighth last outing in the Las Cienegas Handicap. The 5-year-old mare also had trouble while finishing fourth in the Buena Vista. She has won four of 27 starts for earnings of $175,756.
Bejarano and Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel will attempt to connect with lightly-raced Gentle Gale. The 4-year-old daughter of Storm Cat has won one of three starts and will be running around two turns for the first time.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who registered his 5,000th career win with Political High in the final race at Hollywood Park's 2007 Autumn Meet, will be represented by Unspoken Word in the Wilshire. She won the one-mile Hillsboro Handicap at Bay Meadows while making her last start on March 29. The 4-year-old has won four of 13 starts for earnings of $236,664.
Star of Whitney arrives at Hollywood Park fresh from an allowance win at Turf Paradise; Macadamia finished sixth while making her most recent start in the Las Cienegas, and La Tee steps up following a win in an optional claiming race on April 3.
The Wilshire will run as the seventh of eight races on the opening-day program. First post is at 1:20 p.m.
