Invaders take aim at Sircat Sally in San Clemente

DEL MAR, Calif. – Is the hometown favorite a slam dunk in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap on Sunday at Del Mar, or can a shipper upset the turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies?

Enthrall arrived last weekend from France, and Lull arrived this week from New York. Those two enter the $200,000 San Clemente as legitimate challengers to Sircat Sally, the local favorite with a potent combination of tactical speed and finishing kick.

“She has a big turn of foot coming for home,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “A lot of her last eighths are very fast. She can sit where she wants, and she has that turn of foot. That makes her dangerous.”

Hollendorfer added one other thing. “Well, she’s undefeated, so we’re happy with that.”

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Sircat Sally, a California-bred filly owned by breeder Joe Turner, is favored to extend her 7-for-7 streak when she meets seven rivals in the one-mile San Clemente. It is her toughest race, with the shippers having arrived with proper credentials.

Enthrall has won 2 of 3, all in France, and will be trained in the U.S. by Brendan Walsh.

“She looks like she’s got her best days in front of her,” Walsh said. “It’s a question of how good she is. She hasn’t done too much wrong.”

Enthrall’s class has not been determined; the San Clemente is her first graded stakes.

Lull arrives having established herself as a top turf filly in the East but a notch below the best. Lull could have stayed home to run Friday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Lake George at Saratoga, but trainer Christophe Clement opted for California for a couple of reasons, including having to scratch Lull last month when a race was taken off the turf.

“We’ve been struggling with the weather the last two months,” Clement said.

“It’s becoming a bit of an issue, and I did not want to take a chance with the weather. I also thought that a mile on firm turf is probably her best distance.”

The Grade 3-placed Lull finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last year, and in her last start May 20, she finished second by a nose in the Soaring Softly at Belmont Park. The winner, Morticia, won another stakes in her next race.

The San Clemente is the local prep for the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 19. The others in the San Clemente field are Noted and Quoted, Storm the Hill, Kenda, Spy Ring, Blame It On Alphie, and Madame Dancealot.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sircat Sally, by Surf Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 89-86-78

◗ Her win streak includes six stakes, the last three graded.

◗ She will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke because regular rider Mike Smith rides Abel Tasman on Sunday at Saratoga.

◗ Sircat Sally defeated Beau Recall in three of her last four starts. Beau Recall finished sixth in the Belmont Oaks. The third-place finisher from Sircat Sally’s two most recent races, Pacific Wind, was an allowance-race favorite Friday in race 3.

Enthrall, by Bernardini

◗ Walsh said Enthrall will ship to Kentucky following the San Clemente and could be considered for a dirt race at some point. She won her career debut on synthetic.

◗ Rafael Bejarano rides.

Lull, by War Front

Last 3 Beyers: 85-77-80

◗ Clement has won big turf races at Del Mar with fillies including Oaks winners Discreet Marq and Rutherienne and the mare Voodoo Dancer.

◗ Brian Hernandez Jr. will be aboard and is riding at Del Mar for the first time.