Featured Stakes from the West Coast

After a disappointing eighth-place finish in last month’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Teddy’s Promise gets back on the track Sunday as the 8-5 morning line favorite for the $100,000 Playa del Rey Stakes at Hollywood Park. The race is open to fillies and mares three-years-old and up and will be run over six furlongs on the Hollywood synthetic track. Prior to the BC F&M Sprint, Teddy’s promise had not been worse than third in six starts in 2013, a run that started with a win in the Grade II Santa Monica Stakes as well as two other stakes victories.

Two favorites have recent history

Second ML choice at 3-1 is Rumor, who was fourth in a small field last time out in the Grade II A Gleam Handicap, and race in which Teddy’s Promise finished second. But two starts back Rumor was able to finish ahead of Teddy’s Promise in the Grade III Las Flores, for her only win in four starts this season. Teddy’s Promise will carry high weight for the race at 126 pounds, while Rumor will be second high weight at 124. Regular rider Victor Espinoza has the mount on Teddy’s Promise, with Mike Smith in the tack on Rumor.

Sky High Gal will try a new surface

After running exclusively on the turf in all six races of her limited career, the John Sadler-trained Sky High Gal (8-1) will make her first start on the all-weather track, and could have some say in the outcome at a good price if she takes to the footing.  She started her season with a victory in the Blue Norther Stakes on January 1, against a field that included Fiftyshdesofhay, who has since gone on to hit the board in multiple graded-stakes events. Her last time out in the Grade III Ken Maddy Stakes Sky High Gal ran fourth, but beaten less than two lengths after leading early.