HOLLYWOOD PARK : Aptly Named Advancing Star Wins Another

Trainer Richard Mandella has another 2-year-old sensation on his hands.

Late last year, Afternoon Deelites caused a stir by beginning his career with three impressive performances.

Nearly 12 months later, a filly is the one turning heads.

Proving that her eight-length victory in a 1:08 4/5 debut on Oct. 21 at Santa Anita was no fluke, Advancing Star cruised to a four-length victory in the $106,000 Maker’s Mark on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

In providing one of the easiest rides of jockey Gary Stevens’ career, the 2-5 favorite took the lead right out of the gate, and from there the only questions were what the final margin and final time would be for the seven furlongs. The answer: 1:21 4/5.

Comparisons between Afternoon Deelites, who is back in training after being injured earlier this year, and Advancing Star were bound to occur, and Mandella thought of him when he saw her running Saturday.

“About halfway down the backstretch, I said, ‘She looks like another Afternoon Deelites here.’ It’s very exciting.

“I thought she was doing it the same way he did. We knew she could run [before her debut], but in my barn I’m not going to test them to know just how fast they can run. So, we’re going to be surprised when one runs in 1:08 4/5 [for six furlongs] in the afternoon, and she did [in her first race].

“She’s a tenacious filly. She’s aggressive and wants to play and have fun. She’s excitable, but to be good you have to be a little excitable. We’re not complaining about that.”

Owned and bred by John and Betty Mabee, the Soviet Star filly was trained at San Luis Rey Downs before coming to Mandella in September. If she had begun her career a little earlier, she would have been an interesting addition to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

“I have to give credit to Heinz Schwab [her trainer at San Luis Rey Downs],” said Mandella. “He had her up to [five furlongs], you know, pretty fit. He deserves a lot of credit. Those guys do a lot. They get ‘em ready down there and send them up and you never hear about them. They do a lot of good work down there and [that] makes it look good for us.”

A trip around two turns is likely next for Advancing Star. She will probably return in the $250,000 Hollywood Starlet at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 16.

“Wow, she’s unbelievable,” said Stevens. “[Mandella] was a little worried about her nerves going to the gate and trying to keep her relaxed.

“He just wanted to get her through this race as a good experience without getting her stirred up. I rode her as if she was 2-5 and in against no other horses. I pretty much just galloped her around.

“I’ve ridden some pretty nice fillies, so I’ll just say, you don’t see too many second-time starters perform like she just did. She’s got an unbelievable stride, her mind’s good and she’s got the right guy training her. She should be around for a long time.”

Hidden Lake, the 4-1 second choice, rallied for second, 3 1/2 lengths in front of Saratoga Flower.

*

A prime candidate to be named 1995’s 2-year-old champion, Hennessy is the 6-5 favorite in the $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Breeders’ Cup today at Hollywood Park.

Returning to California after running four times at three tracks in the East, the son of Storm Cat will be making his first start since he was beaten by a neck by Unbridled’s Song in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Stevens, who has won three of five on owner Bob and Beverly Lewis’ colt, will be back aboard today after Donna Barton rode Hennessy in the Breeders’ Cup.

Successful in two of three starts at Hollywood Park for trainer Wayne Lukas, the favorite could wrap up the Eclipse Award with a victory in the Prevue, then a win in the Hollywood Futurity next month. The other Eclipse contenders are the injured Maria’s Mon and Unbridled’s Song.

Cobra King, who is bound for Florida and a winter campaign at Gulfstream Park after today, is the 2-1 second choice. The Farma Way colt bounced back from a sub-par effort in the Del Mar Futurity with an impressive win in the Sunny Slope Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

The remainder of the field for the seven-furlong Prevue includes Exetera, who was seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Matty G, Jazzmanian Devil, Zipped The Message and Grey Devil.

*

There have been three stakes run in the first four days of Hollywood Park’s fall meeting and all have been won by Stevens.

In addition to the Maker’s Mark with Advancing Star and the opening-day Flawlessly with Twice The Vice, Stevens directed Tychonic to a $13.40 upset in the $61,400 Steinlen on Saturday.

Able to make the lead without pressure, the 5-year-old Last Tycoon horse won for the third time in his last five starts, beating Polish Admiral and seven others in 1:39 1/5 for the 1 1/16 miles on turf.

*

Horse Racing Notes

There was one perfect ticket in the Pick Six, worth $116,021.20. . . . Jeff Metz rode heavily favored Russian Rainbow to an easy victory in the third race, which was restricted to amateur riders. . . . Yourmissinthepoint won the $250,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup. Basqueian was second and Sky Carr third. Yourmissinthepoint paid $6.20, $3.60 and $2.80.