Sam's Sister tunes up for La Brea
DEL MAR, Calif. – After winning the first three starts of her career on synthetic and dirt, at distances ranging from six to seven furlongs, Sam’s Sister will move to turf and shorten up to five furlongs in the featured seventh race on Friday at Del Mar.
The third-level optional $80,000 claiming race serves as a means to an end, according to Jerry Hollendorfer, her trainer and co-owner. Sam’s Sister has raced every five or six weeks since winning her debut here in July. Her last start was Oct. 13 at Santa Anita. Her next major goal is the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Dec. 26, opening day of Santa Anita’s winter meeting.
So, in order to keep her on a race schedule that has worked well so far, Hollendorfer didn’t want to keep Sam’s Sister from racing for 2 1/2 months. It was either that, or go in this spot.
“It’s not ideal,” Hollendorfer said Wednesday. “But she’s doing good, and she needs to have another race to get ready for the major race opening day. She needs a race in between to get ready for the Grade 1.”
There are nine fillies and mares entered in the race, yet, curiously, only one has ever won a race on this course, that being Belle de Lune, who captured a turf sprint here in July 2013.
KEY CONTENDERS:
Sam’s Sister (Last 3 Beyers: 87-86-75)
◗ Although this is her first try on turf, she did run well on Polytrack here during the summer, winning twice, and form on synthetic often translates well to turf.
Stars Above Me (Last 3 Beyers: 87-78-83)
◗ She flashed high speed when finishing third in the 6 1/2-furlong Unzip Me Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 27 at a distance likely a touch beyond optimum. This cut back to five furlongs should suit her.
◗ She was scheduled to run in the Ken Maddy down the hill at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, but when it came off the turf following overnight rain, she was scratched by trainer Graham Motion.
◗ Her wide draw is not ideal, especially with the rails being set out 24 feet from their innermost position.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Stars Above Me. Trainer Graham Motion is 42-6-4-6 with a $0.97 ROI over the past five years in turf sprints following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Biorhythm (Last 3 Beyers: 91-68-65)
◗ She is an accomplished turf sprinter and comes off a victory on Santa Anita’s downhill turf course.
◗ Like Stars Above Me, she was scratched from the Maddy when it came off turf.
◗ She is winless in two prior starts on this course, but both of those races were going a mile.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Biorhythm. Trainer Tom Proctor is 20-6-2-1 with a $3.45 ROI over the past year in turf sprints with Drayden Van Dyke aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Belle de Lune (Last 3 Beyers: 57-76-79)
◗ She is a stablemate of Biorhythm, but appears the weaker of an uncoupled entry.
◗ She has run well on this course, but it’s tough to get a line on her current form.
◗ She has run just once since August 2013, finishing last on Polytrack here during the summer when returning from a 13-month absence.