Star Parade Backs Faith of Trainer

Among those who wagered on Adoration when she won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at nearly 41-1 more than six weeks ago was trainer Darrell Vienna.

“I just thought she was going to run that kind of race that day,” he said. “I was just lucky.”

Adoration made her first start since her career highlight in the $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap on Sunday at Hollywood Park, and Vienna cashed in again.

But in a different way this time. Star Parade, a 4-year-old, Argentine-bred filly Vienna trains for longtime owner Doug McClure, led every step of the way at 12-1 to surprise Adoration and 9-10 favorite Bare Necessities.

Purchased privately this year in South America, Star Parade used the same tactics that had worked for Adoration in the Distaff.

She quickly drew clear heading into the first turn and was never seriously menaced en route to her third victory in five starts in this country.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, she won by 3 1/4 lengths and completed the 1 1/16 miles in a stakes record 1:41.02. The previous record of 1:41 1/5 had been set by Golden Klair, who also was trained by Vienna, 10 years ago.

Although she had never competed in a group or graded stakes before Sunday, Vienna entered the Bayakoa believing that Star Parade, who won once in seven races in Argentina, had a legitimate chance to upset.

“I told [Adoration’s trainer] David [Hofmans] congratulations about the Breeders’ Cup when I saw him in the paddock,” Vienna said. “Then, I told him it’s going to be too bad about today.

“I thought we would be on the lead. The reason we put her in here is because we thought she had a chance to win.”

This was the first victory in the Bayakoa, a Grade II race, for Espinoza, who had been second two of the previous three years.

“I worked this filly last week and I was really impressed,” said Espinoza. “It’s been a long time since I’ve worked a filly who went like that.

“She can finish, so I just let her run today. I didn’t even take a hold. This really is a very, very good filly.”

Adoration, the 7-5 second choice in a field reduced to six starters after Summer Wind Dancer and Southern Oasis were scratched earlier in the day, finished four lengths clear of Bare Necessities. Then came Angel Gift, Keys To The Heart and Sparkling Ava.

“Around the three-eighths pole, I had to start picking it up to get to [Star Parade],” said Patrick Valenzuela, the rider on the runner-up.

“I thought I might have her measured halfway around the turn, but coming out of the turn, I knew I was in trouble when that filly took off.”