ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 20, 2014) – Halo Dolly seeks to become the latest California-bred millionaire when she faces a talented field in Saturday’s $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares on the Gold Rush card at Santa Anita.
Graded winner Ciao Bella Luna is a Kentucky-bred by California stallion Tribal Rule, out of the Conquistador Cielo mare Shadow of the Moon, was bred by Dennis and Carol Yokum, is owned by Rockingham Stable and trained by Peter Miller. She has four wins in 14 starts, earnings of $284,110 and is coming off a fifth in the Apr. 12 Las Cienegas Stakes.
Defending champion Unusual Hottie is by Unusual Heat, out of the Ski Champ mare Branco Como Neve, was bred by owner Ali Nilforushan and is trained by Jeff Mullins. She has seven wins in 20 starts, earnings of $418,128 and is coming off a second in the Mar. 29 American Beauty. She won this race last year at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Multiple stakes winner Unusual Way is by Unusual Heat, out of the Great Above mare Way Up, was bred by Thomas Bachman, is owned by Edward Brown and Philip Lebherz and trained by Jeff Bonde. She has five wins in 16 starts, earnings of $685,960 and is coming off a second in the Mar. 23 Dream of Summer.
Halo Dolly is by Popular, out of the Comic Strip mare Spanish Halo, was bred by Rod and Lorraine Rodriguez, is owned by Hoefflin, Hoefflin, Hollendorfer, O’Farrell, Robin, et al and is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. She has 18 wins in 37 starts, earnings of $982,316 and is coming off a win in the Mar. 23 Dream of Summer.
Kathleen Rose is by Good Journey, out of the Decarchy mare Cantina’s Rose, was bred by owner B&B Zietz Stable and is trained by Mike Machowsky. She has three wins in seven starts, earnings of $134,040 and is coming off a Mar. 7 optional claiming win.
Journey On is by Good Journey, out of the American Chance mare Miss Del Mar, was bred by Leatherman Racing, is owned by Neil Haymes and Robert Master and is trained by Doug O’Neill. She has four wins in 10 starts, earnings of $154,910 and is coming off a sixth in the Mar. 29 American Beauty.
Dancingtothestars is by Good Journey, out of the In Excess mare A Lil Excess, was bred by owner Ren-Mar Thoroughbreds and is trained by Doug O’Neill. She has six wins in 22 starts, earnings of $413,122 and is coming off a third in the Mar. 15 Irish O’Brien. She was fourth in this race last year.