Handicapper's Corner: 2020 Honeymoon Stakes (G3)

Lighting the way in the Honeymoon Stakes

By: Laurie Ross, ThoroCap

The Honeymoon Stakes gives 3-year-old fillies the opportunity to stretch their legs 1 1/8-miles over the Santa Anita Lawn.

The Grade 3 event attracted a well-matched field of nine. Red Lark is the only filly in the group that has traveled nine furlongs, and she won her maiden at the distance.

The Favorites

STELA STAR (IRE) (2-1) has hit the board in three of five lifetime. She was last seen tearing down the stretch to just miss the victory by a nose in the one-mile China Doll in her U.S. debut. The John Sadler trainee owns the highest Brisnet late-pace speed figure in the field and is one of five who have a one-run closing style.

LAURA’S LIGHT (5-2) is four for five lifetime, and perfect over the Santa Anita lawn. She got the best of Croughavouke, Parkour, Guitty, and Little Bird in the Blue Norther Stakes.  By leading second-crop sire Constitution, Laura’s Light’s distaff line is sprinter/miler oriented, although her dam’s half brother Summer Hit placed third in the 2014 Oak Tree Handicap at nine furlongs. The Peter Miller trainee likes to lead the pack but can sit off the pace.

PARKOUR (7-2) finished a close third in last year’s Blue Norther Stakes. She won her 3-year-old debut in an allowance/optional claimer, beating  K P Dreamin in the process. By Carpe Diem out of a Grade 3-winning sprinter, Parkour has a sprinter/miler pedigree. She’s a need-the-lead type and is victorious only when she has a comfortable lead.

Legitimate Longshots

RED LARK (12-1) is the only filly proven at nine furlongs. After winning her maiden at the distance, she shortened up to a mile in the China Doll Stakes. The Patrick Gallagher trainee made a strong run from eleventh place but finished fifth, only 1 3/4-lengths behind the winner. 

CROUGHAVOUKE (8-1) bobbled at the start of the China Doll Stakes and was almost nine lengths behind in the early stages. She made a five-wide move in the stretch to miss by just 2 1/2-lengths. Umburto Rispoli is one of the better turf riders in California. 

K P DREAMIN (12-1) showed new life after a surface switch and drop from Grade 1 company. In her turf debut against allowance/optional claimers, The Jeff Mullens trainee made up thirteen lengths, to miss second place by a half-length. It was a good effort, and this daughter of Union Rags has plenty of turfy class in her distaff line; Her dam is a half-sister to the winner of the 2008 Pacific Classic (G1) and three-time record-setter Go Between. K P Dreamin should improve in her second turf start and love the extra distance. 

The rest of the field appears up against it.

SELECTIONS

I don’t expect a fast pace. There are two confirmed front-runners, and LAURA’S LIGHT and PARKOUR, although Laura’s Light can press the pace. K P DREAMIN can also press the pace or draft behind the top pair, along with LITTLE BIRD. The rest are one-run closers, and we could see an exciting finish if the front-runners falter.

#5 LAURA’S LIGHT (5-2)

#9 STELA STAR (2-1)

#7 RED LARK (12-1)

#2 K P DREAMIN (12-1)