Becky’s Dream crushes her rivals on debut May 27 at Santa Anita (Benoit Photo)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Hector Palma’s talented French-bred Becky’s Dream looms large in Saturday’s $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante at Santa Anita, as does trainer Jeff Bonde’s Crazy Hot, who demolished a field of California-bred fillies in her debut last month. With this pair rating top billing, a field of five sophomore fillies will go five furlongs in the biggest race so far this year for juvenile fillies in California.
Owned by Palma’s Royalty Stable, Becky’s Dream was off at 7-5 in her 4 ½ furlong debut May 27 and she did not disappoint, as she strode to a 3 ½ length win which resulted in a lofty 80 Beyer Speed Figure—best of any Debutante entrant.
By Kentucky-based stallion City of Light, a four-time Grade I stakes winner, out of the Colonel John mare Corporate Queen, Becky’s Dream was bred in France by Yeguada Centurion, SLU.
Quick from the blocks in her first start and in command throughout, Becky’s Dream will be ridden back by Tiago Pereira.
An ultra-impressive first-out winner going 4 ½ furlongs here on May 20, Crazy Hot, off as the 9-5 favorite, galloped by 10 ¾ lengths in an effort that earned her a 72 Beyer and suggested she could be headed for stardom.
Owned by Rusty Brown and Cory Thabit, Crazy Hot, who is by Goldencents out of the Rockport Harbor mare Harbor Mist, was bred in California by Tom Bachman and sold for $75,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings and Horses of All Ages Sale.
With Geovanni Franco riding her back, Crazy Hot will no doubt get plenty of pari-mutuel attention on Saturday.
Trainer Steve Specht will ship south with talented first-out maiden winner Grand Slam Smile, who cruised to a four-length win versus open company going 4 ½ furlongs at Golden Gate Fields May 14. Off as the 3-5 favorite among a field of eight, which included five males, Grand Slam Smile was in complete command throughout.
Owned and bred in California by Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams, Grand Slam Smile is by Smiling Tiger out of the Grand Slam mare Royal Grand Slam. With a 54 Beyer earned on synthetic Tapeta, Grand Slam Smile will hope to be as effective against tougher competition on natural dirt with Golden Gate-based Frank Alvarado back aboard.
THE $100,000 FASIG-TIPTON DEBUTANTE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 3 of 12 Approximate post time 2 p.m. PT
- Becky’s Dream—Tiago Pereira—123
- Motet—Kyle Frey—119
- Grand Slam Smile—Frank Alvarado—123
- Crazy Hot—Geovanni Franco—123
- Stormy Gal—Abdul Alsagoor–119
First post time for a 12-race card on the penultimate Saturday of Santa Anita’s 28-day Hollywood Meet is at 1 p.m. with admission gates opening at 11 a.m.
