Sherlock uncertain where Lost Bus will run next

ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Gary Sherlock resisted taking part in an elaborate evening celebration after the upset win by Lost Bus in Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita.

“I went home and went to bed after the last race,” Sherlock said.

Sherlock, who turned 70 earlier this month, was a bit subdued in the winner’s circle, fighting the effects of the flu.

Sunday morning, Sherlock said he felt slightly better. Watching the former claimer Lost Bus win the Grade 2 Santa Monica certainly helped revive his energy.

A California-bred, Lost Bus was claimed for $32,000 at Del Mar in November and made her third start for Sherlock and owner Terry Lovingier in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs for fillies and mares. The longest shot in the field, Lost Bus ($131.20) fought for the lead under jockey Fernando Perez and won by a head over Finest City.

The stretch duel between Lost Bus and Finest City was the subject of an objection by jockey Corey Nakatani, who rode Finest City. The stewards ruled both runners drifted out and that contact between the pair was made after the finish.

Sunday, Sherlock said he was unsure where the 4-year-old Lost Bus would make her next start.

“I didn’t look past this race,” he said. “She is a Cal-bred, so there are plenty of options.”

Lost Bus will remain in training through at least 2016, Sherlock said. The filly is by the In Excess stallion Bring the Heat and was bred by John Haagsma and trainer Wesley Ward. Lost Bus is out of the Stravinsky mare Frysland, who won 2 of 8 starts and earned $62,700. Frysland has had four foals to race, including the 11-time winner Magoo, who has raced primarily at Los Alamitos.

Lost Bus was initially trained by Blake Heap for Ward and Haagsma. For Heap, Lost Bus was second in the CTBA Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar in 2014 and third in the Generous Portion Stakes for that division at the same venue a month later.

In 2015, Lost Bus won her first start of the year in an optional claimer for California-breds at Santa Anita. She was claimed by Lovingier and Sherlock when she raced for a claiming price for the first time in her career. Lovingier was attracted to Lost Bus because she raced against his My Fiona, who won the CTBA Stakes.

“I didn’t expect this,” Lovingier said. “I don’t claim that often anymore, but I did claim quite a few horses before I started breeding them.”

Lost Bus has won 3 of 11 starts and $256,018. She earned $120,000 for the Santa Monica, and has earned $143,958 since being claimed.