S Y Sky primed for Thursday turf sprint

DEL MAR, Calif. – The richest race on Thursday’s card at Del Mar leads off the eight-race program, with nine female sprinters set to go five furlongs. What surface they race on could be decided that morning.

Yeah, they say it never rains in California, but rain is what the weatherman is forecasting for Thursday, and it could impact proceedings, as four of the races – every odd-numbered race – is scheduled for the turf. With Grade 1 races like the Hollywood Derby and Matriarch scheduled for the weekend, use of the course figures to be truncated earlier in the week if the weather is poor.

Regardless of whether race 1 on Thursday stays on turf or ends up moving to dirt, S Y Sky figures to be a major player. She has had two solid efforts on dirt this fall since returning from a 15-month layoff, and her lone prior start on grass resulted in the highest Beyer Speed Figure of her career. She’s good to go.

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S Y Sky most recently finished third in the Betty Grable Stakes for California-bred female sprinters here Nov. 11. She shortens up from seven furlongs to five furlongs for this and should be fit for her third start off the layoff.

“She ran okay; she ran all right last time,” said trainer Phil D’Amato, adding that S Y Sky was off for more than a year owing to a soft-tissue injury.

“The way I’ve trained her coming back, I think racing will do her more good. I prefer that to hard breezes,” he said. “I like the progress she’s made in her fitness and her training.”

S Y Sky is using her second-level allowance condition in this optional claimer. Two of her rivals – Nine Point Nine and Easy Grader – are in for the $62,500 claiming tag.

Thursday begins the final week of the meet. There is $155,879 in the single-ticket jackpot carryover of the pick six, which begins on race 3 Thursday. There will be a mandatory payout on closing-day Sunday.

KEY CONTENDERS

S Y Sky, by Grazen

Last 3 Beyers: 84-84-91

◗ If the race stays on turf, this will be her first start on the Del Mar course. She won her only grass race, on Santa Anita’s downhill course. Joe Talamo has ridden her every time and is back aboard on Thursday.

Nine Point Nine, by Tribal Rule

Last 3 Beyers: 87-66-86

◗ She beat a softer optional-claiming field at Santa Anita last time out and might have won here during the summer but for a horrendous trip on July 19.

Moon Kitty, by Wildcat Heir

Last 3 Beyers: 88-73-84

◗ Like Nine Point Nine, she defeated a softer optional-claiming field at Santa Anita in her last start, her second race since being claimed by Jack Carava.

Okinawa, by The Factor

Last 3 Beyers: 70-74-92

◗ She’s back with her friends after trying two turns last time.