Ouraika steps up in final strides, edges Urban in Sweet Life Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Ouraika was the lone shipper in a field of 10 3-year-old fillies in Saturday’s Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita. The journey from trainer Graham Motion’s base in Maryland was a worthwhile venture.

In her graded stakes debut, Ouraika ($11.40) closed from sixth to take the lead in the final strides, edging 2-1 second choice Urban to win the $102,500 Sweet Life Stakes by a head.

Ouraika, who was ridden by Juan Hernandez, ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:13.98. Ouraika earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 72.

Ouraika was sixth on the hillside, racing about four lengths behind early leader Baby Steps. Hernandez had Ouraika behind the leaders when the field crossed onto the main turf course and opted to stay toward the inside.

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“The rail opened,” said Alice Clapham, Motion’s assistant trainer. “She settled very nicely and handled it well. She’s pretty uncomplicated.”

Urban finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of 9-5 favorite Kitty Kitana, a maiden who had her stakes debut in her third start in the Sweet Life Stakes.

Ellamira finished fourth, followed by Baby Steps, Half Past Twelve, She’s So Shiny, Impeachd Alexander, Dolly May and I Got a Gal.

Ouraika races for the partnership of Michael Dubb and Madaket Stables.

A French-bred by the Sea the Stars stallion Zelzal, Ouraika has won 2 of 6 starts and has earned $100,019.

Ouraika began her career in France, where she won a maiden race at tiny Dax Racecourse. Ouraika joined Motion’s stable last fall, and was fourth in her American debut in the Chelsey Flower Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 6. In her final start at 2, Ouraika finished second by a half-length in an allowance race at six furlongs on turf at Aqueduct on Dec. 3.

Clapham said Ouraika will return to Maryland.

“We brought her out here to try the sprint and see how she would handle it,” she said.

It turns out that Ouraika handled the trip, the sprint and her graded stakes debut quite well.

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