Foxysox Steps Up in Class

Late last year, trainer Carla Gaines made what has become an annual trip to England to attend a Newmarket sale of horses of racing age.

Working with the Lillingston Bloodstock agency, Gaines purchased the last thoroughbred she bid on, Foxysox, a 2-year-old daughter of Foxhound, on behalf of longtime owner Warren B. Williamson.

Winless in five starts at six furlongs in England, Foxysox has done much better here.

Since arriving in California, Foxysox, a turf specialist, is perfect in four races at a mile. She steps into Grade II company for the first time in the $175,000 Honeymoon Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Sunday at Hollywood Park.

This will also be the first time Foxysox, a granddaughter of the recently deceased Danzig, will race beyond a mile. The Honeymoon, at 1 1/8 miles, is the final major prep for the $750,000 American Oaks, run at 1 1/4 miles, July 2.

Despite Foxysox’s winning ways, it has taken some time for the betting public to grow fond of her.

She was 12-1 in her maiden win Feb. 9 at Santa Anita, 14-1 when she won the China Doll slightly more than a month later, then 4-1 when she made her graded stakes debut in the Providencia on April 8.

After the three scores in Arcadia, Foxysox was finally the favorite when she won the Senorita, another Grade III race, in her Hollywood Park debut May 6. She won by 1 1/4 lengths as the 9-10 favorite.

She bruised a foot in that race and missed a few days of training, but appears to have rebounded quickly.

“She’s doing very well,” Gaines said. “I toyed with the idea of skipping this race because of the time she missed, but she’s doing so well.”

When Gaines saw Foxysox at Newmarket, she was attracted by the filly’s appearance and was impressed with what turned out to be her next-to-last race in England.

“She looked like an American horse,” Gaines said. “She had very good bone [structure] and good fitness. Her pedigree was screaming for a mile and all she had done was sprint.

“In her one race at Newmarket [last Sept. 29] she finished third in a 30-horse field against colts. It’s an uphill course and she finished strong.”

Gaines, who has trained stakes winners such as Super High, Blending Element, Unlimited Value and Freeport Flight, believed Foxysox had some growing up and filling out to do, and the filly has complied.

“Mr. Williamson has the three winner’s circle pictures for her three races at Santa Anita, and if you put them side by side it doesn’t look like the same horse,” she said. “She’s blossomed and filled out.”

Foxysox has been ridden by Alex Bisono in all four of her wins, and the jockey, who has struggled to get mounts -- and wins -- elsewhere, will be aboard again in the Honeymoon.

“Alex is a very hardworking young man,” Gaines said. “He’s always come by, wanting to work horses.

“One morning he jumped on Foxysox, and they were a great team. They get along well. She listens to him. He’s a capable jockey.”

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Star Parade, who won the Hawthorne Handicap on May 7, will try to become the sixth filly or mare to win the $175,000 Milady Breeders’ Cup Handicap for a second time when she races five others today at Hollywood Park.

Owned by Gary Tanaka and trained by Darrell Vienna, Star Parade, who has won four of seven starts at Hollywood Park, will join A Gleam, Adored, Azeri, Bayakoa and Paseana as a two-time Milady winner if successful in the Grade II race at 1 1/16 miles.

If the 7-year-old, Argentine-bred mare does win, she will hand Proposed her first loss in Inglewood. A 4-year-old Benchmark filly trained by John Shirreffs for owner-breeders Pam and Marty Wygod, Proposed is three for three at Hollywood Park, including a win in the B. Thoughtful Handicap on April 30.

Somethinaboutlaura, Freakin Streakin and Memorette are also scheduled to run in the Milady, a prep for the $300,000 Vanity Handicap on July 2.

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Jockey John Velazquez, a two-time Eclipse Award winner, returned successfully Friday at Belmont Park, winning with his first mount since he was injured April 20 at Keeneland.

Back weeks ahead of schedule from a broken right shoulder blade and cracked ribs, he won the fourth with favored Mr. Sam I Am for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Velazquez, scheduled to ride Kentucky Derby runner-up Bluegrass Cat for Pletcher in the Belmont Stakes a week from today, was hurt when Up An Octave broke down after winning the Forerunner Stakes.