Moonless Sky needs no help to win

DEL MAR, Calif. – Technically, Moonless Sky is a stakes winner. She was promoted from second to first in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes at Santa Anita in May after Pacific Heat was disqualified for causing interference in the stretch.

On Friday, Moonless Sky has a chance to claim a stakes win without a shred of controversy when she starts from the rail in the $150,000 Solana Beach Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar.

Owned by Pappas Racing and trained by Eddie Truman, Moonless Sky is part of a Get the latest news from Del Mar at live.drf.com competitive field of eight.

“There’s no standout,” Truman said. “It’s who gets the best trip. Hopefully, we’ll be the one.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Moonless Sky, by Bold Chieftain Last 3 Beyers: 82-87-85

◗ Moonless Sky won four consecutive starts after joining Truman’s stable last winter, including the Fran’s Valentine. Moonless Sky was fourth, beaten a length, in an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf here July 19. The first two finishers of that race – Shes the rite stuff and How Unusual – are part of the Solana Beach field.

“I think the shorter trip will help her compared to last time,” Truman said. “In retrospect, she got beat a length. I wonder if I should have run her.

“She could be fresher, but it would have been two months off, and she’s not a good work horse.”

◗ Truman said the rail draw should not hinder Moonless Sky, who races from off the pace and will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux.

“She’s been a sweetheart, and Kent knows her so well,” Truman said. “He can adjust.”

◗ The one rival Truman fears is Majestic Heat, who won the 2016 Solana Beach Stakes but has not raced since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita last November.

“If she’d had a race, we’d be running for second,” he said.

Majestic Heat, by Unusual Heat Last 3 Beyers: 90-92-91

◗ Majestic Heat was turned out following the Goldikova. A 5-year-old, Majestic Heat has trained well in recent weeks, trainer Richard Mandella said.

“She’s come back faster than I thought she would,” Mandella said. “She stepped right up.”

A winner of 4 of 11 starts, Majestic Heat won the Solana Beach in her second start last year. Mandella said he’s slightly concerned that Majestic Heat comes into this year’s race off a nine-month layoff.

“She was ready and had a race, so I don’t know,” Mandella said.

Starlite Style, by Unusual Heat Last 3 Beyers: 79-78-78

◗ The Solana Beach will be a class test for Starlite Style, who has won three consecutive races since late April. Trained by Hector Palma, Starlite Style won an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf against open company at Santa Anita in June in her last start.

◗ This will be Starlite Style’s first stakes appearance since a fourth as a maiden in the Campanile Stakes for 3-yearold California-bred fillies at Golden Gate Fields in May 2016.