Servis shipper Strong Like Sara in fine form for Rainbow Miss
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The South Florida invader Strong Like Sara will make her first start against Arkansas-breds on Saturday in the $150,000 Rainbow Miss at Oaklawn Park. She appears to be coming into the race on top of her game, according to trainer John Servis.
The Rainbow Miss is a six-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies bred in Arkansas. It drew a field of nine that includes the unbeaten Caliente Star and recent allowance winner She’s a Dreamer.
Strong Like Sara has Beyer Speed Figures in the 70s in her last two starts, her latest a first-level allowance win on March 6 at Gulfstream Park. The five-furlong race came off the turf and was run on the track’s synthetic Tapeta surface. Strong Like Sara won by 1 1/2 lengths.
“She’s really come around a lot the last two months, month and a half,” Servis said. “She’s training better than ever, doing really well, and her last two races show that. She’s matured. She’s gotten bigger and stronger and, mentally, she’s right on target. So we thought she could handle the haul out there and try, see how she does.”
Servis said he was particularly pleased with Strong Like Sara’s last work at Palm Meadows Training Center, where she breezed a half-mile in a bullet 47.40 seconds March 26.
Servis, who more than 20 years ago swept Oaklawn’s series for 3-year-olds with eventual Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones, is now based on the East Coast. Strong Like Sara will be his first starter at the current meet at Oaklawn, which is doling out record purses. The daughter of Frosted was an $85,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland’s September 2023 sale and races for Alexandria Stable.
“My guy that short-lists for me just loved her at the sale, and so I thought, heck, if she’s that nice, being an Arkansas-bred is just a plus,” Servis said. “She’s a tank. She’s just a real attractive filly. You can see why he was so excited about her at the sale. I mean, she’s gorgeous.”
Strong Like Sara’s other career win came on dirt in a maiden special weight at six furlongs at Monmouth Park. She won on a fast track that day but could see a wet track Saturday, as heavy rains are forecasted.
“As good as she’s been on the turf and the Tapeta, I would think she’d enjoy a wet track,” Servis said. “I don’t think that would bother her at all. I think that would help her, actually.”
For the Rainbow Miss, Strong Like Sara will break from post 4 under Rafael Bejarano.
“She likes to have something to run at,” Servis said.
Caliente Star will start from post 7 under Francisco Arrieta. She was a debut winner Dec. 22 at Oaklawn and returned one start later to win a first-level allowance for fillies and mares by 3 1/2 lengths Feb. 14. Both races were for Arkansas-breds.
Tammy Hornsby trains Caliente Star, a daughter of Tapiture and the stakes-winning mare Caliente Candy, for Jama Lopez.
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