Her Emmynency handles turf just fine in Surfer Girl

ARCADIA, Calif.- The last month of Her Emmynency’s career was geared toward her appearance in Sunday’s $101,750 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita.

Since Her Emmynency finished second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 30, trainer Mike Stidham has trained the filly with the intent of trying her on turf in the Surfer Girl. She worked well in September on turf, and handled the new surface with no difficulty on Sunday.

Stidham said that Her Emmynency will make her next start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf over a mile on Oct. 31.

Sent off favored in the Surfer Girl, Her Emmynency ($4.20) ran a mile on turf in 1:34.77, winning by 2 3/4 lengths over She’s Complete. Her Emmynency was ridden by Joe Talamo, who had the filly on the rail throughout, stalking the early pace of 22.25 and 46.22 seconds set by Devil’s Beauty.

“She got a little aggressive on the first turn and Joe got her to settle behind the leaders,” Stidham said. “You want a horse that will settle and have the turn of foot on the grass.”

Talamo kept Her Emmynency on the inside on the turn. Entering the stretch, Her Emmynency had ample running room and took the lead quickly. She led by two lengths with a furlong remaining.

She’s Complete, who won the Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Sept. 1, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 8-1 Bobbi Grace, a recent import from Ireland.

Sea Mona was fourth, followed by Call to Congrats, Achiever’s Legacy, Into Oblivion, Heart of Paradise, Foolish Ways, Shezapiranha, Devil’s Beauty, and Elementar.

Her Emmynency, by Successful Appeal, races for Ike and Dawn Thrash of Hattiesburg, Miss. Purchased for $115,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, Her Emmynency has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $165,000.