Fairplex: Jockey Kayla Stra invited to contest in Peru

A good summer for jockey Kayla Stra comes with perks. The 26-year-old rider won her fourth race of the Los Angeles County Fair meet Sunday, and she leaves for Peru on Thursday to participate in an international female jockey competition.

“I’ve ridden female invitational races in Australia; this will be fun,” she said.

Stra began her riding career in Australia, and began riding in the U.S. in 2007. She was invited to a similar event held in Jamaica this summer, but turned it down when her business at Del Mar began to pick up. Stra won four races at Del Mar.

Stra, 4 for 31 at Fairplex, has three mounts Wednesday – Sparkling Keat in race 5, Scent of Chrism in race 8, and Sacred Ghost in race 10. Stra will return for the autumn meet at Santa Anita.

Runstevierun will stretch out at Fresno

Runstevierun, the 2-year-old colt whose C.B. Afflerbaugh victory Sept. 14 at Fairplex Park was the first stakes winner by first-crop sire Stevie Wonderboy, will stretch to 1 1/16 miles for his next start Oct. 16 at the Big Fresno Fair. Trainer Doug O’Neill said Runstevierun will target the $75,000 Charlie Palmer Futurity, a race in which he is expected to face Northern California-based 2-year-old Longview Drive.

Runstevierun, 1 for 4, earned a 60 Beyer for his Afflerbaugh victory; Longview Drive, 2 for 3, earned an 80 Beyer winning the six-furlong Cavonnier Juvenile on Aug. 14 at Santa Rosa.

Modest Beyers for Barretts winners

The Barretts Weekend of Stars on Sept. 17-18 came up short on quality. Winners of the Barretts Debutante and Barretts Juvenile earned speed figures that suggest they will be hard-pressed to defeat open company. Both stakes were restricted to 2-year-olds offered for sale at any Barretts auction.

Willa B Awesome earned a 71 Beyer Figure winning the $89,000 Barretts Debutante on Sept. 17 by 2 3/4 lengths over troubled favorite Heleonor Rugby. Willa B Awesome, trained by Walther Solis and ridden by Martin Pedroza, was sired by first-crop stallion Awesome Gambler. The California-bred Willa B Awesome has won 2 of 6.

Unhitchthetrailor earned a 53 Beyer Figure winning the $87,000 Barretts Juvenile on Sept. 18 by three lengths. Unhitchthetrailor, trained by Gary Sherlock and ridden by Christian Santiago-Reyes, was sired by Kafwain and also has won 2 of 6.

◗ The $75,000 Ralph M. Minds on closing day, Sept. 25, attracted 14 nominations. Among those expected to run are Achak, Grade 3 winners Chocolate Candy and El Gato Malo, statebred stakes winner Norvsky, and 2009 Pomona Derby winner Quindici Man.