NEWS
Hystericalady, Pussycat Doll to meet in Santa Monica
Posted: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 6:15 PM
HYSTERICALADY
Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
by Myra Lewyn
Hystericalady, a close second to Ginger Punch in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), will make her 2008 debut on Saturday at Santa Anita Park in the $250,000 Santa Monica Handicap (G1), in which she will meet last year’s winner Pussycat Doll.
The seven-furlong Santa Monica originally was scheduled for January 27 but was rescheduled to Saturday due to heavy rain and continuing drainage problems with the synthetic Cushion Track surface.
Hystericalady won three of eight starts in 2007, including her four-length victory over runner-up Pussycat Doll in the Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) on May 5 at Churchill Downs. She also won the Molly Pitcher Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2) on August 25 at Monmouth Park before finishing a neck behind ‘07 champion older female Ginger Punch in the Breeder’s Cup Distaff on October 27 at the Oceanport, New Jersey, track.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who co-owns the five-year-old Distorted Humor mare with George Todaro and Rancho San Miguel, Hystericalady was assigned high weight of 122 pounds, conceding from three to ten pounds to five challengers.
Pussycat Doll, who received a 119 pound impost, captured two of seven starts in 2007, including the Santa Monica by four lengths when it was run on dirt.
Trainer Bob Baffert tried the Real Quiet mare on synthetic surfaces in two subsequent starts with disappointing results. She finished sixth, beaten by 7 ¾ lengths, in the A Gleam Invitational Handicap (G2) on Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track surface on July 6. Pussycat Doll followed with a fourth-place finish, seven lengths behind winner River’s Prayer, in the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) on August 17 on Del Mar’s Polytrack surface.
Returned to dirt, Pussycat Doll annexed the Storm Flag Flying Stakes on October 19 at Belmont Park to conclude her season or owner Mike Pegram. Pussycat Doll was purchased for $2.3-million by Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky selected fall mixed sale.
Myra Lewyn is Thoroughbred Times daily news editor
The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:
1. Pussycat Doll (Real Quiet), Garrett K. Gomez, 119, Bob Baffert;
2. Society Hostess (Seeking the Gold), Jose Valdivia, Jr., 117, Christophe Clement;
3. Silky Smooth (Mr. Greeley), Aaron T. Gryder, 115, Jeff Mullins;
4. Overly Tempting (In Excess [IRE]), David Romero Flores, 112, Bruce Headley;
5. Hystericalady (Distorted Humor), Rafael Bejarano, 122, Jerry Hollendorfer; and
6. Intangaroo (Orientate), Alonso Quinonez, 112, Gary Sherlock.
