Laurie Ross
Iron Maidens

Like many Stakes races, the Landaluce is named for an exceptional race horse. Landaluce had a too short, yet brilliant career, winning her five starts, four of them graded, by a combined margin of 46 1/2 lengths. She won the six-furlong Hollywood Lassie Stakes in 1:08 flat. Unfortunately, the great filly died of Colitis X, an intestinal infection, and she was buried in the infield of Hollywood Park. Afterward, the Hollywood Lassie Stakes was renamed in her honor.

Besides the Champion Landaluce, other champion fillies that have captured this race include Sickles Image (1958) Mira Femme (1966) and Serena’s Song (1994). Champion Althea was second in 1983; Lite Lite, Excellent Meeting, and Set Play all finished third in their respective editions. Last year’s winner Repo has continued her career and was second in a turf stakes race as a three year old.

This year’s field of eight includes everything from a first time starter to three race seasoned pros.

Belleofthebridle was a distant second in the Willard Proctor behind eventual Hollywood Juvenile Championship victor J P’s Gusto. She owns two strong six furlong works.  Belleofthebridle’s dam is a half sister to Grade 3 stakes winner Turkappeal and is also a half-sister to the dam of the precocious Grade 1 winner Mani Bhavan.

Dawnie Macho overpowered her rivals and set a track record in her debut at Arlington Park earning an eye-catching 104 BRIS speed figure in the process. She’s had one moderate work over the Hollywood Cushion track. Dawnie Macho’s immediate distaff family is modest but durable. She may be at low odds, but she has traveled to a new barn, and is attempting a new surface and distance in less than a month off of a track record.

Moonstruck Maya came from off the pace to win her initial race by a nose. She shows strong subsequent works and returns for a high percentage barn. Her dam is a half-sister to two stakes winners, including the grand-dam of Grade 1 winner Diamondrella.

Izshelegal starts her career facing winners in a stakes race. She shows consistently swift steady works, but the barn is only 6 percent with first time starters. Izshelegal is by two year old champ Macho Uno out of an Overbrook Farm–bred mare by A.P. Indy. Her female family is a long list of whose who and includes multiple graded stakes winners Katz Me if You Can and Cuddles as her first and second dams, Northern Afleet and the classy Tap to Music.  Izshelegal may need a start or two to get her bearings and prefer added distance.

She’ll Heir, a daughter of last year’s leading Freshmen Sire, Wildcat Heir came from off the pace to post a one length victory in the Cinderella Stakes.  All of her siblings are winners and her damsire Favorite Trick, was the Champion Juvenile of 1997. She’ll Heir’s second dam was a stakes winning sprinter.  Now undefeated in two starts, She’ll Heir owns three progressively longer works.

Michailasheartlite steps up from the maiden claiming ranks after winning at second asking.  She ran her five furlongs in identical time to Moonstruck Maya’s race. There is no blacktype (stakes winners) in her first two generations, but her third dam was stakes placed in France.

Swiss Wild Cat was a game second in the Cinderella Stakes after being bumped around between rivals. She shows strong works and the talented daughter of Swiss Yodler gets a chance to turn the tables.

Hi Ho Yodeler was fourth in the Cinderella. Her breezes are slightly quicker than those of her stablemate Swiss Wild Cat. More importantly, she attracts the “now” kid, Martin Garcia to her saddle.   The sires Perfect Soul and Flashy Bull are part of her distaff family.

Belleofthebridle
She’ll Heir
Moonstruck Maya
Swiss Wild Cat