WELL-ACCOMPLISHED LAURA’S LIGHT HEADS SOLID FIELD OF NINE SOPHOMORE FILLIES IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III HONEYMOON

Santa Anita Release —-

WELL-ACCOMPLISHED LAURA’S LIGHT HEADS SOLID FIELD OF NINE SOPHOMORE FILLIES IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III, $100,000 HONEYMOON STAKES AT 1 1/8 MILES ON TURF

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 27, 2020)—In what appears to be an outstanding betting race, Gary Barber’s well-accomplished Laura’s Light heads a solid field of nine sophomore fillies going a mile and one eighth on turf in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita. Hronis Racing’s Stela Star, a big second in her U.S. debut here on March 7 and LNJ Foxwoods’ speed Parkour both figure to provide stiff competition in the race named for movie mogul Louis B. Mayer’s brilliant California-bred filly Honeymoon, who won seven stakes in California in 1946.

LAURA’S LIGHT

Owner: Gary Barber

Trainer: Peter Miller

Favored in four out of her five starts and a two-time Santa Anita turf stakes winner, this filly by Constitution was attentive to the pace en route to a three quarter length win in the Grade III Sweet Life Stakes going 5 ½ furlongs on turf her two starts back on Feb. 16 as the heavy 2-5 favorite. Subsequently well beaten at 4-5 in a one mile ungraded stakes over a synthetic surface at Turfway Park on March 14, she’ll ship in to run on Saturday from her San Luis Rey Downs Training Center base. A 3 ¼ length winner of the one mile turf Blue Norther Stakes three starts back on Dec. 29, Laura’s Light has three wins from five starts and looms the horse to beat in the Honeymoon.

STELA STAR

Owner: Hronis Racing, LLC

Trainer: John Sadler

A Group III winner of a seven furlong turf stakes two starts back in her native Ireland, Stela Star ran a tremendous race in defeat in her U.S. debut, rallying from far back to finish second, beaten a half length by multiple stakes winner Warren’s Showtime in the one mile turf China Doll Stakes here on March 7. She has continued to train well on Santa Anita’s inner dirt training track and with leading man Flavien Prat taking over on Saturday, look for Stela Star to run huge in her second start for Sadler.

PARKOUR

Owner: LNJ Foxwoods

Trainer: Richard Mandella

A Kentucky-bred filly by Carpe Diem, she exits a runaway 3 ¼ length allowance win going a mile on turf here March 20 when ridden for the first time by Mike Smith, who will rider her back on Saturday. Fourth, beaten 3 ¾ lengths by Laura’s Light two starts back in the one mile turf Blue Norther on Dec. 29, she was an impressive gate to wire maiden winner going one mile on the Del Mar turf three starts back on Dec. 1. Winless in her first two races sprinting on dirt this past fall, Parkour has now won two out of her three tries on grass and will hope to slow the pace down on Saturday as she stretches out an eighth of a mile.

THE GRADE III HONEYMOON WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

Guitty—Brice Blanc—120
K P Dreamin—Victor Espinoza—120
Fashion Royalty—Jose Valdivia, Jr.–120
Croughavouke—Umberto Rispoli—120
Laura’s Light—Abel Cedillo—122
Little Bird—Mario Gutierrez—120
Red Lark—Drayden Van Dyke—120
Parkour—Mike Smith–120
Stela Star—Flavien Prat—120

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wager via 1stBet.com or through Xpressbet.com. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST Racing, 1/ST Technology, 1/ST Live and 1/ST Properties businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST Horse Care mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST Racing drives the best-in-class horse racing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, and Gulfstream Park West (Florida); and Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST Technology is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX, Betmix, Monarch and XBTV brands. 1/ST Live blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including, The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST Horse Care represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. For more information please visit www.1st.com.