Reluctant Guest Scores First Stakes Win

Lightly campaigned Reluctant Guest closed from the middle of the pack to score her first stakes victory, by 2 1/2 lengths in the $83,950 Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by Chris McCarron for his fifth Senorita victory, Reluctant Guest moved from fifth position on the backstretch to gain the lead turning into the stretch and then easily held off the closing bid of Formidable Lady.

General Charge, second choice in the wagering to Reluctant Guest, finished third in the field of nine.

The winner was timed in 1:34 for the mile on the infield turf course to equal the stakes record set by Skillful Joy in 1982. Reluctant Guest was sent off as a slight favorite by the crowd of 23,000 and returned $8, $5 and $3.40. Formidable Lady, ridden by Corey Black, paid $5 and $3.40, while General Charge’s show price was $3.80.