S Y Sky seeks end to drought in allowance sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – S Y Sky has not been first under the finish line in more than 18 months, but trainer Phil D’Amato said it hasn’t been for lack of trying.

“Her mind is in the game, and she’s still trying to win,” he said.

A two-time stakes winner, S Y Sky will be favored to win for the fifth time in her eight-race career in a $67,000 allowance race for California-bred fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on Thursday.

S Y Sky had three starts in 2018, a second and a third in stakes for California-bred fillies and mares, and a second in an optional claimer at Del Mar in November. S Y Sky was promoted from second to first in the optional claimer after a rival was disqualified for causing interference.

On Thursday, S Y Sky is part of a field of six that includes two other stakes winners – Barbara Beatrice, who won the California Distaff on the hillside turf course in October 2017, and Show It N Moe It, who won the 2017 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes at Del Mar.

The allowance is the eighth race on a nine-race program that begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific. There is a carryover of $603,541 in the Rainbow 6 jackpot pool, which has not been hit since the start of the meet on Dec. 26. The Rainbow 6 runs from race 4-9.

KEY CONTENDERS

S Y Sky, by Grazen

Last 3 Beyers: 83-84-84

◗ Thursday’s race will play an important role in plans that owner and breeder Nick Alexander and D’Amato have for S Y Sky. S Y Sky could be bred or stay in training as a 5-year-old.

“We’ll play it race by race,” D’Amato said. “I’m sure we’ll get some more good races through February. If she’s in peak form, there is no reason Nick won’t campaign her another year.”

◗ S Y Sky worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 last Saturday.

“She had a good breeze,” D’Amato said. “She sat behind a team of horses and drew past them. This is as good as she’s ever been.”

◗ D’Amato said there was talk of waiting for the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint on the hillside turf course Jan. 26 before the decision was made to enter Thursday’s race.

“We’re thinking of waiting for the Cal-bred stakes, but she’s doing so good,” he said. “Why wait for that race?”

Show It N Moe It, by Grace Upon Grace

Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-88

◗ Similar to S Y Sky, Show It N Moe It is in a drought – winless in seven starts – but has kept good company. Trained by Gary Sherlock, Show It N Moe It was third in the Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs here in October.

◗ Show It N Moe It was fifth in a productive running of the Betty Grable Stakes for Cal-bred females at seven furlongs on Nov. 11. Winner Spiced Perfection won the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes here on Dec. 26. Runner-up Just Grazed Me, owned by Alexander and trained by D’Amato, won an optional claimer at Los Alamitos last month. S Y Sky was third in the Grable.