Star Parade’s Win Shows She’s No Fluke

Anyone who believed Star Parade’s win in the Bayakoa Handicap more than two months ago at Hollywood Park was a fluke better rethink that position.

Making her first start in a Grade I in Monday’s $250,000 Santa Maria Handicap at Santa Anita, the Argentine-bred mare was challenged early by Adoration, the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner, and late by multiple-stakes winner Bare Necessities, but she prevailed.

The race was weakened by the scratch of Island Fashion, a two-time stakes winner who is being reserved for either the $300,000 Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita on March 14 or the $500,000 Apple Blossom on April 3 at Oaklawn Park. But Star Parade, the 6-5 favorite, led throughout on Monday, just as she had in the Bayakoa.

Making her first start since being purchased by owner Gary Tanaka last month for a sum reportedly in the vicinity of $1 million, the 5-year-old prevailed by a head over 5-2 third choice Bare Necessities in 1:43.87 for the 1 1/16 miles.

This was the fifth win in 13 starts for Star Parade, who provided jockey Victor Espinoza with the first of his two stakes wins on the holiday card. Espinoza guided 7-2 longshot Puerto Banus to a narrow victory in the $200,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap.

Formerly owned by Doug McClure, Star Parade remains in the care of trainer Darrell Vienna and he admitted he had some doubts on whether the daughter of Parade Marshal would last after he saw what turned out to be an erroneous six-furlong fraction posted on the tote board.

“I was concerned because I saw 1:08,” said Vienna, who would have been more relaxed had he known the actual fraction was 1:10.52. “Victor told me when Adoration went today, [Star Parade] just took off with him, so we really didn’t have any strategy.

“I felt we’d be on the lead, but it was not a plan that we had to follow. But you could see how rank she was. She was just pulling the whole way.

“I said before the race I felt she would get tested for class and there wasn’t a horse in the race who didn’t have a shot at her. Galloping out past the wire she opened up on them again.”

Vienna indicated Star Parade will return in the Santa Margarita, a race that would mark her first attempt at 1 1/8 miles.

Bare Necessities, who has banked over $800,000, finished two lengths clear of 14-1 shot La Tour, then came Adoration, Preeminence and Angel Gift. La Tour stumbled past the wire, unseating jockey Alex Solis, who was uninjured.

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In the San Luis Obispo, Puerto Banus’ neck victory over 3-1 favorite Continuously made it three wins in six starts since joining trainer Kristin Mulhall.

Purchased last year by Michael Mulhall, the trainer’s brother, Neil Papiano and Steve Taub, the 5-year-old Supremo horse and half-brother to the classy mare Spain completed the 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:28.

A winner twice in 10 starts when racing for the Thoroughbred Corporation and trainer Bob Baffert, Puerto Banus has found his calling as a turf marathoner. The San Luis Obispo was his second victory at 12 furlongs. He had won the Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 20.

“It was kind of rough on the last turn, but we got lucky and got through,” Espinoza said. “This horse has a lot of heart. He never gives up.”