Star Billing Has Krikorian Excited

Owner-breeder George Krikorian had three good reasons to look forward to this summer while touring the stable area Sunday.

Homebred Star Billing won the $100,000 Grade III Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf Saturday to remain unbeaten in two starts, two races after stablemate Guest Star finished a fast-closing second in a maiden race in her second outing, both for trainer John Shirreffs.

Krikorian is also the owner-breeder of Hoorayforhollywood, a colt who won his debut for trainer Bob Baffert and is nominated to the $100,000 Grade III Laz Barrera Stakes here next Sunday.

“Hoorayforhollywood is the first foal out of Hollywood Story,” said Krikorian of the royally-bred colt by Storm Cat. “He lost a little time with a foot bruise after his first win (in February at Santa Anita).” Multiple stakes winner Hollywood Story scored her first stakes win as a maiden in the Grade I Hollywood Starlet.

Star Billing and Guest Star also boast strong pedigrees associated with success at Hollywood Park and should continue to be heard from this meet.

Guest Star is by Storm Cat out of Krikorian’s multiple stakes-winner Starrer, who was a two-time winner of the Bayakoa Handicap.

Star Billing is by Dynaformer out of another Krikorian mare, Topliner. “Topliner is a half-sister to Starrer,” explained Krikorian.

HEADLEY CONTINUES ASSAULT ON SPEED

Trainer Bruce Headley set a Hollywood Park Cushion Track record of 55.98 seconds for five furlongs with M One Rifle in defeating previous record-holder Cost of Freedom by one-half length in the $91,010 Cool Frenchy Stakes Saturday. Headley said he is aiming M One Rifle for a return May 30 in the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap, in which the Headley-trained Street Boss holds the six-furlong track and stakes record of 1:07.55, set in 2008.