Streaming steps up to win Grade1 Hollywood Starlet
The 2-year-old filly Streaming became Bob Baffert’s newest Grade 1 winner after her determined victory in the $500,500 Hollywood Starlet on Saturday.
Just three weeks removed from her debut victory at six furlongs, the daughter of Smart Strike stretched out successfully, stalking the pacesetter Taste Like Candy for the first seven furlongs, then taking command in the stretch to win by 1 1/2-lengths in 1:44.96 for the 1 1/16-miles.
Owned by her breeders John G. Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings, Inc. and Edward McGhee, Streaming was supplemented to the Starlet for $10,000 with an additional $10,000 required to start. The $260,000 payday increased her earnings to $287,000.
“I had her pretty fit the first time I ran her,’’ said Baffert after his third win in the Starlet, following Excellent Meeting (1998) and Habibti (2001).
“We’ve been really high on this filly. It was too late to get a race into her to run her in the Breeders’ Cup (Nov. 1 at Santa Anita). I wasn’t sure if I was going to run in here because I didn’t nominate her.
“Her last two works really showed she could sit off a horse. You’re always hoping they’ll run like they train and how they’re bred. We’ve been lucky to win some Starlets and especially with this being the last one. She’s really special.’’
Asked on TVG where Streaming would be headed next, Baffert said simply with a smile, “Something big.”