This year’s Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies was one of the best races of the year. Julien Leparoux masterfully guided She Be Wild up the rail and narrowly bested Beautician and Blind Luck for the top honors. She Be Wild is taking a much deserved rest, but Beautician and Blind Luck are back at it in the Hollywood Starlet. The fillies were separated by a mere head last out. Amen Hallelujah, Bickersons, and Rose Catherine will also vie for the win in this race.

The Hollywood Starlet has been a very strong race in years past. It is a Grade I event for two-year-old fillies over the main track at Hollywood Park over the distance of 8.5 furlongs. Laragh won the race last year after finishing third as the favorite in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in her last start. Two years ago it was Country Star who won the race. The victory came in stakes record breaking fashion, and it was her second Grade I in just three starts. Corey Nakatani holds the record for wins by a jockey at four. D Wayne Lukas has the most wins by a trainer at five, including four in a row.

Amen Hallelujah looks like a solid play here and she will be my top selection. The daughter of Montbrook has progressed strongly since racing for a tag of $40,000 in July. She broke her maiden going six furlongs at Arlington, and followed that win up with an easy score in optional claiming company. Her last race was a third place finish in the Alcibiades at Keeneland. She was only two lengths behind the winner. The filly that ran second in that race, She Be Wild, came back to win the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. She enters the race fresh and offers good value at the morning line price of 4-1.

Trainer Ken McPeek has decided to add blinkers for Beautician after she ran second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies last out. I’m a fan of the saying “if its not broke then don’t fix it”. I don’t really get why he is throwing them on. McPeek is no fool and I’m sure he has a good reason; I just don’t know what it is. She seemed to respond to the extra distance in her last two races. She spent most of the summer playing second fiddle to Hot Dixie Chick, but Beautician has a very good chance to break through with a win here. Don’t be surprised to see her run strong.

The favored Blind Luck couldn’t get it done last out, but looks strong here. The Hollendorfer trainee will have Rafeal Bejarano in the irons for the first time. She is working strongly and should get a strong pace to chase. If things are fast early then the closer could deliver a swift knockout punch to the field. Bejarano has been riding well this week and he does well on closers. She is a must use on top of all exotic wagers.

Rose Catherine actually regressed in terms of Beyer Speed Figures last out even though she was second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She earned a 91 figure in her maiden breaking win two back, but only got an 83 for her last effort. The speed ball is a daughter of Speightown. She will be making her first start over a synthetic track. Turf horses usually handle synthetic so I don’t expect that to effect her. However, the distance could be a slight problem. She needs to set unpressed and easy fractions to have a chance to win. Javier Castellano will be in the irons for Todd Pletcher.

Who do you like in the Hollywood Starlet?!