Gold Rush V

Benoit Photo
$150,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes
MOSCOW BURNING

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Apr. 24, 2004) – Moscow Burning overtook Super High in mid-stretch and went on to a 2 ½-length win in Saturday’s $150,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes, just missing the stakes record in the opening race on the $1.3 million Gold Rush V card at Hollywood Park.

Moscow Burning is a 4-year-old daughter of Moscow Ballet, out of the Mr. Leader mare Burning Desire, was bred by Harris Farms and Ken Maddy Trust and is owned by Mariani or Nentwig or Van Kempen.

She was claimed last August for $25,000 and has since won the California Cup Distance Handicap. She ran the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:39.34, three-hundreths of a second off the stakes record of 1:39.31 set by Here’s To You in 2000. She was coming off a fifth in the Grade II Orchid Handicap at Gulfstream Park Mar. 21.

The win was her seventh in 13 starts and the $90,000 purse raised her career earnings to $397,165. Moscow Burning also finished second by three quarters of a length in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf and by a nose to Super High in the Pro or Con Handicap. She was ridden by Kent Desormeaux and trained by James Cassidy.

Super High was second and Sweet Frippery (another daughter of Moscow Ballet) was third. Valentine Dancer, the 7-5 favorite and high weight, finished sixth in the field of seven.

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