Sharla Rae proves herself on turf with Del Mar Oaks victory

DEL MAR, Calif. – At times in her career, Sharla Rae has been a dirt or synthetic filly, a plan that led to three minor stakes wins from September 2014 through February this year.

After Saturday’s $300,750 Del Mar Oaks, Sharla Rae showed she is best on turf. She may never run on another surface again.

Recording the most prestigious victory of her career, Sharla Rae closed from fourth to win the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks by three-quarters of a length over the 14-1 Her Emmynency. Prize Exhibit, the 7-5 favorite, closed from seventh in a field of eight to finish third.

Ridden by James Graham, Sharla Rae ($14.40) ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.58.

“This is what she wants to be,” said trainer Doug O’Neill.

Graham kept the filly toward the inside on the turn and was always fourth or closer, within five lengths of pacesetter Paulina’s Love, a 23-1 shot. Graham guided Sharla Rae off the rail into the stretch and was third with a furlong to go.

The ground-saving trip was part of race strategy, O’Neill said.

“I just loved it,” O’Neill said. “He tried to save ground. It was like we had a walkie-talkie to James. He was in the perfect spot.”

Her Emmynency led in the final furlong but could not hold off the late surge from Sharla Rae.

“That thing just wore us down,” said Mike Stidham, who trains Her Emmynency.

Her Emmynency was sixth in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap behind Prize Exhibit on July 19 but ran a much brighter race in the Del Mar Oaks.

“I’m glad that she showed us what she is today,” Stidham said.

Prize Exhibit closed steadily through the stretch but did not threaten the first two, losing by 2 1/4 lengths. Sunset Glow was fourth, followed by Majestic Heat, Rattataptap, Paulina’s Love, and Zipessa.

The Del Mar Oaks was the first Grade 1 win for Graham since Daisy Devine won the Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland in April 2012. For Graham, the Del Mar Oaks was his first stakes win at the track. He relocated from the Midwest earlier this summer.

Sharla Rae, named for O’Neill’s office assistant, Sharla Rae Sanders, is a filly by Afleet Alex. Sharla Rae has won 5 of 13 starts and earned $436,545. She was owned by Glenn Sorgenstein’s WC Racing until early May when she was purchased privately by Gary Barber, Nils Brous, and Adam Wachtel.

For Sorgenstein, Sharla Rae won three stakes – the Barretts Debutante at Los Alamitos last September, the Pike Place Dancer Stakes at Golden Gate Fields last October, and the California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields in February.

For the new partnership, Sharla Rae was fifth in the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita in May and seventh in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks in New York on July 4 before the breakthrough win Saturday.