Solis Has a Winner in ‘Vegas

In terms of stakes victories, the local circuit’s dominant jockey is Alex Solis.

The leader at Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet with 14 stakes victories, Solis is also on top at Hollywood Park with six, five more than leading rider Patrick Valenzuela.

Solis’ latest score came with 2-1 second choice Miss Vegas in the $108,900 Senorita Stakes as the 3-year-old, Irish-bred and Italian-raced filly, in her U.S. debut, held off 13-10 favorite Ticker Tape.

Purchased privately by trainer Bobby Frankel for owner Ed Gann, Miss Vegas, who had won five of six in Italy, was in front from the outset, then withstood the bid of China Doll and Providenica winner Ticker Tape to prevail by a head. Racing beyond six furlongs for the first time in her life, the daughter of Efisio who hadn’t started since Nov. 16 before Saturday, covered the mile on turf in 1:34.25 in the Grade III.

“This is a very special filly,” said Solis. “She ran hard the whole way. When we got to the eighth pole, (Ticker Tape) came very strong, right up to us and my filly held on.

“She saw the other one next to her and took off again. She fought all the way to the wire. There had to be a good reason why she had won five out of six in Europe and she showed why today. She is a runner.”

Ticker Tape, who has not been worse than second in five starts in this country since arriving from England, finished three lengths clear of Amorama, then came Winendynme, Freakin Streakin, Taygete and Sauceonside, who had to be vanned off the track after an apparent injury to her right hind leg.

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Jockey Tyler Baze had four winners on Saturday at Hollywood Park, taking the second with Charming Boy, the fourth with first-time starter Vencer, the sixth with longshot Freedom Note and the seventh with Victory Girl.

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Hollywood Park’s on-track attendance and total handle for Preakness day were up significantly over last year.

The total handle was $19,178,139 compared with $17,870,635 in 2003, and the on-track crowd was 13,376 compared with 11,445.

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Ten Most Wanted, whose biggest wins were in the Illinois Derby, Travers and Super Derby last year, has been retired because of a leg injury.

Owned by a 10-member partnership that includes J. Paul Reddam and trainer Wally Dollase, Ten Most Wanted, the 4-year-old Deputy Minister colt, finished his career with five wins from 13 starts and earnings of $1,718,460.

In his final start April 17 at Hawthorne, Ten Most Wanted beat a very weak field by six lengths in the $250,000 National Jockey Club Handicap.

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Storm Flag Flying, the 2-year-old filly champion of 2002, won her first stakes race since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies almost 19 months ago when she prevailed by a half-length over Passing Shot in the $200,000 Shuvee Handicap on Saturday at Belmont Park.