by Jenny Blandford

Everest Stables’ homebred Million Dollar Run went from maiden to graded stakes winner on Sunday with a convincing victory in the $110,400 Railbird Stakes (G3) at Hollywood Park.

The Tejano Run filly entered off a close runner-up finish in her career debut at Santa Anita Park on March 30, but easily handled the step up in class with a 2¼-length triumph over Grade 3 winner Tasha’s Miracle.

In the process of winning the seven-furlong race in 1:20.66 on the synthetic Cushion Track surface, the Million Dollar Run also handed Grade 3 winner and 1.30-to-1 favorite Lethal Heat the first defeat in her four-race career after that filly stumbled at the start under Rafael Bejarano. She never threatened the winner but managed to finish third.

Jockey Joel Rosario positioned Million Dollar Run in second behind pacesetter Peisinoe through an opening quarter in :22.13 and a half-mile in :44.45, stalking that foe into the turn.

Million Dollar Run bid three wide entering the lane and powered to a clear win while drifting toward the rail in the late stages.

Tasha’s Miracle, who finished third in the Las Virgenes Stakes (G1) in her season debut in February, rallied strongly in the closing strides and finished 2¾ lengths in front of Lethal Heat. 

Trained by Marcelo Polanco, Kentucky-bred Million Dollar Run is out of the winning Hold for Gold mare Six Zeroes.
 
For an Equibase chart, click here.

Jenny Blandford is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor