Sheer Pleasure back in form for Dream of Summer Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. – At this time last year, Sheer Pleasure was on the verge of winning consecutive stakes against California-breds, victories that defined her season.
So far this year, losses have defined her season.
Sheer Pleasure is winless in three races in 2016, a streak that may end in Sunday’s $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
The Dream of Summer Stakes is run at a mile on dirt, conditions that should suit Sheer Pleasure. Last year, she won the Evening Jewel Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs here in April and the Melair Stakes at 1 1/16 miles here in May. Sheer Pleasure is winless in her last five races but was second in an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles against open company March 5.
In the Dream of Summer Stakes, Sheer Pleasure has drawn the outside post in a field of nine that includes the stakes winners Kiss At Midnight and Singing Kitty and the stakes-placed runners Ashley’s Sassy, Light One, Lucy in Diamonds, and Melanistic.
KEY CONTENDERS
Sheer Pleasure, by Birdonthewire
Last 3 Beyers: 78-52-75
◗ Owned by Little Red Feather Racing and RM Racing, Sheer Pleasure has won 3 of 10 starts and earned $323,030.
◗ She returned from a layoff of more than five months to finish sixth in an optional claimer Jan. 10 that was followed by a troubled eighth in the Wishing Well Stakes on a wet-fast track Jan. 31.
“She had some tough trips in her first two starts back,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “The first race, I used it to tighten her up. The second race, she got checked on the rail and was eased.”
◗ D’Amato said he was encouraged by Sheer Pleasure’s second-place finish March 5, when she closed steadily to finish 1 3/4 lengths behind Two Taps.
“I think she has every right to improve,” he said.
Singing Kitty, by Ministers Wild Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 83-85-88
◗ Singing Kitty has won three stakes on turf since the start of 2015 and will race on dirt for the first time since a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks last April.
◗ Trained by Matt Chew, Singing Kitty was eighth in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint on the hillside course Jan. 30. She won a $32,000 claiming race on dirt at Los Alamitos in December 2014.
Kiss At Midnight, by Decarchy
Last 3 Beyers: 81-79-80
◗ Kiss At Midnight was awarded first in the Fleet Treat Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar last summer after Big Book was disqualified from prize money for a medication violation.
◗ Trained by Richard Baltas, Kiss At Midnight was second in three stakes from early October to late December. She was a fast-closing second in an optional claimer at a mile on turf against open company Feb. 27, a race that makes her competitive in this field.