Time Will Tell if Haka Is Hollywood’s New ‘It’ Girl

Haka Girl will race with blinkers for the first time and also make her debut at a distance shorter than a mile when she takes on five other 3-year-old fillies in the $53,000 Impressive Style, 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, tonight at Hollywood Park.

Owned by Anthony Speelman and trained by Neil Drysdale, Haka Girl, a daughter of War Chant, broke into the game on Aug. 23 at Del Mar. Running a mile on the grass, she won by 1 3/4 lengths as the 2-1 favorite, then disappeared until March 13 at Santa Anita.

Off at 4-1 odds that afternoon, Haka Girl finished fifth, beaten two lengths by older rivals. Patrick Valenzuela will ride her for the first time tonight. She is the 2-1 choice on Russ Hudak’s morning line.

The 5-2 second choice is She’s A Jewel, who has won two of eight. A Successful Appeal filly owned by Ernie Moody’s Mercedes Stable LLC and trained by Jay Robbins, she will be making her first start on turf. Rene Douglas will ride.

Expected to complete the field is Spring Of Pearls, who is winless in three U.S. starts for owner Jerry Jamgotchian and trainer Tim Yakteen; Kathryns Birthday, who has yet to race on the grass; Ninadivina, who has been idle since Jan. 17; and Charming Eileen, whose only win came against $50,000 maiden claimers on April 28.

Race of the day: Fastidia, who has been second in her three races in the U.S., will try to win for the first time since April 9, 2004 in the eighth at Belmont Park.

Richard Migliore will ride the 4-year-old Fasliyev filly in the $46,000 allowance at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Fastidia, who will have seven opponents in the race, is owned by Our Jeb Stable and trained by Christophe Clement.

One for the road: Search For Diamonds steps up after a claim in the seventh today at Belmont as she seeks her third consecutive win. Jockey Eibar Coa, who has been on a roll in New York, stays with the 6-year-old Regal Search mare as she debuts for trainer Juan Rodriguez in the $35,000 claimer for older fillies and mares at seven furlongs. She is unbeaten in two starts over the local main track.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Sea Kris and T Town Fame in the third, Mining Diamonds and Gone Cattin in the fourth and Ahuriri Hikawai, The Toast Of Troy and Heatherinthemist in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/127. Money: Previous day/meet total: $21.40/$666.30. Total money bet: $876.