Ticker Tape Takes Shot at Reclaiming Success

One of the best 3-year-old turf fillies of 2004, Ticker Tape had a dry year in 2005.

The English-bred daughter of Royal Applause was winless in seven starts last year, earning only $78,780 compared with nearly $1.12 million the previous year.

Ticker Tape will try to end her losing streak today on a grass course on which she has had success in the $150,000 San Gorgonio Handicap at Santa Anita.

A winner of two of three on the local turf and second in her defeat, Ticker Tape, who is owned by James and Gail Peyton’s Forging Oaks Farm and trained by Jim Cassidy, will be making her first start since finishing third in the My Charmer Handicap on Dec. 3 at Calder.

Kent Desormeaux, who was aboard when the mare scored her biggest victory in the 2004 American Oaks at Hollywood Park, has the call in the San Gorgonio, a Grade II at 1 1/8 miles.

Ten other fillies and mares are scheduled to start, including the three-headed Gary Tanaka-owned entry of Star Parade, Barancella and Flip Flop.

A four-length winner of the Bayakoa Handicap on the Hollywood Park main track on Dec. 11, Star Parade will be looking for her first win on turf. In four previous races on grass, her best showing was a third-place finish. Martin Pedroza will ride for trainer Darrell Vienna.

Race of the day: One Union, who hasn’t raced since finishing fourth in the Del Mar Futurity last Sept. 7, will face 10 other newly turned 3-year-olds in the $75,000 San Miguel Stakes today at Santa Anita. Alex Solis will ride the son of Dixie Union for the first time in the six-furlong race for owner Herman Sarkowsky and trainer Richard Mandella.

One for the road: Saint Stephen has run well over the Gulfstream Park turf course in the past and can rebound from a subpar effort in the Tropical Turf Handicap last month at Calder in today’s $75,000 Ft. Lauderdale. Javier Castellano will be aboard the 6-year-old Saint Ballado horse for trainer Christophe Clement in the 1 1/16 -mile race. Saint Stephen has two wins and a second in three prior starts over the layout.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Dynawhite, Beat The Chalk and Accountable Event in the third, A.P. Surprise in the fourth and Indian Flare, Excessively Nice and Domestic Dispersal in the fifth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 3/25. Money: (previous day/meet total): $12.20/$149.20. Total money bet: $170.