Starkay Attempts to Add to Her Turf Course Wins

Starkay has won three races since coming to the U.S. from New Zealand well over a year ago.

The 6-year-old Towkay mare has earned all three of those victories sprinting on the Hollywood Park turf course and that’s where she will be running tonight in the $60,000 Tuzla.

Owned by a partnership and trained by Roger Stein, Starkay is unbeaten on the Inglewood lawn, having rattled off the victories in a span of less than one month last spring. She began her streak with a victory on May 5, won another on May 29, then scored on June 3.

Sixth in two starts at Santa Anita to begin 2006, Starkay will break from the outside in a field of six in the Tuzla and will be ridden by Patrick Valenzuela.

Her opponents in the race at 5 1/2 furlongs include the comebacking Polyfirst, Allswellthatnswell, Sandra’s Rose, Fortunately and Danclare.

Owned by the Wertheimer Brothers and trained by Richard Mandella, Polyfirst has won two of three in the U.S., but has been idle since a one-length victory on the hillside at Santa Anita on April 5, 2005. Corey Nakatani will ride the 5-year-old, French-bred mare.

Race of the day: Relaxed Gesture, who disappointed in the $5-million Dubai Sheema Classic on March 25 in the United Arab Emirates, returns to a turf course at Belmont Park on which he has run well in the eighth race today. Kent Desormeaux will ride the 5-year-old Indian Ridge horse for Moyglare Stud and trainer Christophe Clement in the $58,000 optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles. Relaxed Gesture has never been worse than third in four starts on the Belmont turf and was a Grade 1 winner in 2005, taking the Canadian International at Woodbine.

One for the road: Seattle Lake can track likely pacesetter Slew Motion for most of the race, then go by late in the third at Belmont Park. Pablo Morales will be aboard the 7-year-old Salt Lake mare for trainer Mike Hushion in the $49,000 optional claimer at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Molly’s Pride in the fourth, Brego, Master Heat and Heated Rebel in the fifth and Crowned Dancer, Send Me A Copy and Iza General in the sixth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 1/27. Money: (previous day/meet total): $7.80/$180.60. Total money bet: $210.