Sheer Pleasure impresses in big Melair win

ARCADIA, Calif. – The winning margin in Saturday’s $196,000 Melair Stakes was 7 1/4 lengths, the gap between the winner Sheer Pleasure and the runner-up Thermodynamics. The impression the winner gave was even greater.

Making her first start around two turns on dirt, Sheer Pleasure ($3.60) handled the assignment without difficulty, benefiting from an ideal ride from jockey Tyler Baze. Sheer Pleasure was third early, took the lead on the turn, and was clear by early stretch.

Sheer Pleasure ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.78 for her second consecutive stakes win. She won the Evening Jewel Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs April 4 for her first career stakes win.

“She’s trained as good as she ever has,” trainer Phil D’Amato said leaving the winner’s circle. “The way she opened up … It was a good time. I knew she could go long. Tyler said he was loaded.”

The seven 3-year-old California-bred fillies were spread out at the finish. Thermodynamics finished 7 3/4 lengths in front of Barbara Beatrice, who was followed by Ashley’s Sassy, Tribal Express, La Fiera, and Niassa.

Sheer Pleasure was the second stakes winner of the day for D’Amato and Baze. Earlier in the day, they teamed to win the Spring Fever Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares with Sunday Rules.

Sheer Pleasure, by Birdonthewire, has won 3 of 5 starts and $257,450, racing for the Little Red Feather partnership. The Melair Stakes was her third start in a stakes. She was fourth in the California Cup Oaks on turf in January in her second start.

“The only kink in her record is when I ran her on the grass,” D’Amato said. “She didn’t like it.”

Considering the style of her win in the Melair, D’Amato said Sheer Pleasure will have her graded stakes debut in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles June 20.