Sedamar, Super Patriot set for rematch in Osunitas Stakes

The coronavirus outbreak has affected more than just the people who own and operate racing stables.

In the spring, when racing was temporarily halted at Santa Anita because of the pandemic, trainer Shelbe Ruis gave the 4-year-old filly Sedamar a brief rest.

“We didn’t know when the next race would be,” Ruis recalled Wednesday.

When racing resumed at Santa Anita, Sedamar finished second to Super Patriot by 1 3/4 lengths in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race on turf for California-bred fillies and mares on June 6.

The rematch is expected in Sunday’s $65,000 Osunitas Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar. The Osunitas is restricted to fillies and mares who have not won a race worth $50,000 to the winner, other than statebred races, at a mile or longer since Sept. 1.

Ruis says Sedamar will be ready.

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“I know Super Patriot beat us pretty easily, but we did give Sedamar some time off when the coronavirus started,” Ruis said. “She will be fitter this time.”

The Osunitas field will not include Mucho Unusual, who was third in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes on May 25 at Santa Anita. She is entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland.

Sedamar races for the Ruis family. Mick Ruis bred Sedamar, who has won 4 of 13 starts.

Shelbe Ruis, who turns 30 on closing day of the Del Mar meeting, Sept. 7, is best known for winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante in 2016 with her family’s Union Strike.

This summer, Shelbe Ruis has an 18-horse stable at Del Mar, which could grow in coming weeks, pending possible acquisitions at sales, she said.

The opening week of the meeting is the rare Del Mar weekend without a graded stakes. The first graded stakes of the summer meeting is the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap for older horses on July 18. The $150,000 San Diego Handicap is expected to draw 2019 champion 3-year-old male Maximum Security who is now trained by Bob Baffert.