Killer Graces wins Hollywood Starlet

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) - Killer Graces defeated Charm the Maker by half a length to win the $402,000 Hollywood Starlet on Saturday at Hollywood Park, giving Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer his second win in the Grade 1 race in three years.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Killer Graces ran 1 1-16 miles on the synthetic Cushion Track in 1:44.09 and paid $30.40, $9.40 and $7.40 at 14-1 odds.

``We had an absolutely perfect trip,'' Talamo said. ``She really likes this track. Her only bad races were at Del Mar. She's just getting better and better and you can do anything with her. She's a really nice filly and I can't wait until she's three.''

Charm the Maker returned $3.60 to place and show. Lady Pecan was another 1 1-2 lengths back in third and paid $6 to show.

Weemissfrankie, the 9-10 favorite, trailed after a stumbling start and wound up fourth in her bid for a third Grade 1 race of the year.

``She was standing so good in the gate, but for some reason she broke really, really bad,'' jockey Rafael Bejarano said. ``I was surprised because she never did that before. All I could do from there was try to stay on the rail. She tried to get out really bad on the first turn. It was just too much for her to do. She finished up really well.''

Killer Graces has three wins in eight career starts and earnings of $394,840 for a partnership that includes Hollendorfer. He won the Starlet in 2009 with Blind Luck.