12/21 (HOL): Dahlia H. (Gr. II)

[Kasept]

8th (4:05) Dahlia H. (G2)

1 1/16 Miles (Turf) | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $150,000

1 Vacare Valdivia J Jr 122 L
2 Green Lyons (IRE) Rosario J 115 L
3 I Can See Gryder A T 115 L
4 Belle Allure (IRE) Nakatani C S 114
5 Place de L'Etoile (IRE) Talamo J 111
6 Gotta Have Her Migliore R 115 L
7 Sensational Love Baze M C 112 L
8 Valbenny (IRE) Solis A 117 L
9 Lady Digby Gomez G K 118 L
10 Don't Forget Faith Quinonez A 110
11 In My Glory Garcia M 113 L
12 Storybook (UAE) Smith M E 114 L

[my miss storm cat]

Quite a few scratches...

http://www.hollywoodpark.com/bet_the...m_changes.html

Good luck to I Can See (sentimental pick) who won't win but who (I hope) is in the mix.

Hope it's okay to post this..... I thought it was sweet. From HP barn notes...

TRAINER IN HIS GLORY WITH DAHLIA LONGSHOT
(no author listed)

Trainer Efrain Miranda cannot wait to saddle In My Glory in the $150,000, Grade II Dahlia Handicap, closing-day feature Sunday for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

"I have been dreaming about winning a big race for a long time," said Miranda Thursday from his training base at Golden Gate Fields, sounding as anxious as a child awaiting Christmas morning to unwrap his gifts.

Miranda has never started a horse in anything richer than a $75,000 stake, let alone won one.

"The only good horse I had was A to the Z, but the owner sold him before he did anything," said Miranda of the horse who became a major stakes winner on this circuit. "I finished second with Booming Along in the Gold Rush Stakes, and In My Glory finished second in the Miss America (in September at Golden Gate).

"I have mostly cheap horses, but I can't complain," said Miranda, 38, who has come a long way since leaving Mexico as a teenager to walk hots for trainer Ron McAnally at Galway Downs. After a brief stint as a jockey at Portland Meadows, Miranda took out his trainer's license 12 years ago and now conditions 18 horses.

Miranda acquired In My Glory, a 4-year-old filly, at the beginning of the year. In My Glory began her career on the Southern California circuit and was claimed for $25,000 in August, 2007, by Chuck Peery for owner Charles Lo of San Francisco.

"I met the owner once at the races, and when Chuck moved to Kentucky, he interviewed me and sent me two other horses not as good," said Miranda. "Then he called me and said he had a filly who was a little crazy, but if I could get her to relax and be quiet and settle down, she could be a nice horse."

That was In My Glory. "The second time I got on her, she got wound up and ran off with me the wrong way around the track," recalled Miranda. "That scared me a little, but I kept switching bits and finally figured it out."

In My Glory this year has recorded three firsts, three seconds and one third in eight starts and earned $112,440. The filly will be reunited with jockey Martin Garcia, who was aboard in her last victory in an allowance race at Del Mar in August.

The front-running filly finished third in an allowance race here on Nov. 2 two starts back before scoring in an allowance test at Golden Gate Nov. 21.

"She got nervous in the post parade in her last race at Hollywood Park, and we learned that she didn't like the lead chain, so we just use the bridle on her now," said Miranda. "She's a horse that likes to do her own thing.

"If she doesn't get excited in the post parade, I think she has a big chance," he added. "If Martin can go 12, 12, 12 (seconds) with her for the first three furlongs, she will be super tough. When she won at Del Mar (after an opening half in 48.20), she came the last quarter in 22 and three. It's a matter of pace."

In My Glory, who was assigned 113 pounds, was shipped here Wednesday to the McAnally stable where Miranda's brother, Jose, is foreman. Miranda will head south Friday.

"I know it's not an easy race," conceded Miranda. "A lot of the big guys are in there with good horses, but you can't dance if you don't go to the dance."