Country Star carries family history well

In 2003, Empire Maker came close to ruling horse racing. He went into the Kentucky Derby as the favorite but ended up finishing second, 1 3/4 lengths behind Funny Cide. After skipping the Preakness, Empire Maker won the Belmont and spoiled Funny Cide’s Triple Crown run.

Empire Maker, who retired to stud after the Belmont, has a daughter, Country Star, who is off to a royal good start.

In the first race of her career, the 2-year-old finished second on turf at New York’s Belmont Park on Sept. 20. Then, jumping up to the big time, she won the Grade I Alcibiades Stakes at Kentucky’s Keeneland on Oct. 5. And she did it in style, going eight wide around the turn to rally and win by a length.

Now comes another Grade I test -- today’s $421,500 Hollywood Starlet at Hollywood Park.

The Starlet is 1 1/16 miles on the Cushion Track, which is the same distance as the Alcibiades on Keeneland’s synthetic track.

Country Star is owned by Robert and Janice McNair and was bred at their Stonerside Stables in Kentucky. And this has already been a good week for the McNairs. They also own the Houston Texans, who defeated the Denver Broncos, 31-13, Thursday night.

Rafael Bejarano, the nation’s fifth-leading jockey who began riding at Hollywood Park Nov. 21 after arriving from Kentucky, will again be aboard Country Star, as he was in her previous two races.

Country Star is trained by Bobby Frankel, who also handled Empire Maker.

“She looks a little like him,” said Frankel, who after the 2003 Belmont called Empire Maker “the best horse I’ve ever trained.”

Country Star, who will break from post position No. 6, faces some stiff competition.

Spritely won her first two races and she is the bay daughter of Touch Gold, who spoiled Silver Charm’s Triple Crown bid in 1997. Spritely will be ridden by Garrett Gomez, Hollywood Park’s -- and the nation’s -- leading jockey. She is trained by Todd Pletcher, the nation’s leading trainer.

Food buffs should take note. One entrant is named The Golden Noodle and another, Grace And Power, is owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, who bought her outright earlier this week after previously owning a small share.

Sunday could mark the return of Nashoba’s Key, the filly who was undefeated in seven races before finishing fourth on a soggy course in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf race at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park on Oct. 27.

Nashoba’s Key is entered in the Grade II $150,000 Dahlia Handicap, but trainer Carla Gaines has indicated she may scratch the filly and instead run her in the San Gorgonio on Jan. 6 at Santa Anita.

Citronnade, who finished second to Nashoba’s Key in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita, is also entered in the Dahlia, but she too could be a late scratch.

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larry.stewart@latimes.com