by Mike Curry

Dearest Trickski has proven to be dangerous opponent when allowed to set an uncontested pace and she delivered a convincing reminder on Saturday at Hollywood Park with a front-running 2 1/4-length score in the A Gleam Handicap (G2).

The Proudest Romeo filly entered off a fourth-place finish on May 17 at Hollywood Park in the Desert Stormer Handicap, in which she did not make the lead and flattened out in the stretch. Prior to the Desert Stormer, however, Dearest Trickski reeled off five straight front-running victories, including clear wins in the La Brea Stakes (G1) on December 29 and the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint Stakes on January 26.

Breaking from the far outside in an 11-horse field in the A Gleam, Dearest Trickski spurted clear under Mike Smith and dictated the tempo through an opening quarter in :22.83 and a half-mile in :45.41. She had a commanding lead in early stretch and held off fast-closing Magnificience to prevail in 1:21.55 on the all-weather Cushion Track surface at Hollywood.

"It was all about her getting into a rhythm. When she breathes, she keeps running,” Smith said. “She caught a flyer leaving there today. I was able to put my hands down and just let her get her neck out. She got her air and she ran very well. That's the whole key to her.  She ran dynamite."

Trained by John Sadler for owner Tom Mankiewicz, Dearest Trickski improved to ten wins in 15 starts. The A Gleam was the third stakes win on the card for Sadler, who saddled Emmy Darling to a win in the Landaluce Stakes and Whatsthescript (Ire) to a victory in the American Handicap (G2).

“I don’t think I’ve ever won three stakes races to be honest with you, but it feels good,” Salder said. “We’ve been building towards this; we have had some really good meets. We won this meet here in the fall, and came in second at Santa Anita. I’m really blessed to have some really good clients and some really good horses.”

Magnificience got off to a slow start from post ten and dropped back to seventh through the first quarter-mile under David Flores. She rallied gamely with a sweeping move leaving the turn but had too much ground to make up on the victor and never seriously challenged Dearest Trickski.

"She was moving around a little in the gate, but I don't think that was an excuse,” Flores said of Magnificience. “I didn't want to rush her because I thought there was enough speed to go with the leader. I was in a good spot. The winner just got an easy lead and nobody chased her."

Magnificience finished one length clear of third-place finisher Romance Is Diane.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor