Sheza Smoke Show win a surprise even for connections

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sheza Smoke Show was given a rest in March after she finished fifth in her stakes debut in the China Doll Stakes on turf at Santa Anita. Trainer Peter Eurton was unhappy with what he saw from the 3-year-old filly.

“I told the owners, ‘We have no chance of beating those fillies at this time,’ ” Eurton recalled on Sunday. “She was light and needed weight on her.”

The break worked when Sheza Smoke Show returned to action Saturday and won the $101,250 Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over a mile on turf. The victory has led Eurton and the partnership that owns Sheza Smoke Show to aim for two turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf during the Del Mar summer meeting – the $200,000 San Clemente over a mile July 19 and the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks over 1 1/8 miles Aug. 16.

In the Senorita, Sheza Smoke Show closed from fifth in a field of 10 to take the lead in the final furlong under jockey Joe Talamo. Sheza Smoke Show ($23.20) won by 1 1/4 lengths over Famous Alice, the 3-1 favorite. Sheza Smoke Show was timed in 1:35.34.

The win surprised Eurton.

“She did train forward into the race,” he said. “I didn’t expect that kind of performance. It worked out really well.”

Sheza Smoke Show is owned by a partnership that includes Ryan Exline. By Wilko, Sheza Smoke Show has won 3 of 6 starts and $138,438.

Declassify and Parranda, the winners of graded stakes Saturday, are bound for stakes at Del Mar.

Declassify won his stakes debut in the $300,250 Triple Bend Stakes over seven furlongs. Ridden by Martin Garcia for trainer Bob Baffert, Declassify led on the turn and was passed by Cyclometer before rallying on the inside to win by a nose as the 2-1 second choice.

Baffert said Sunday that he had no specific goals for Declassify. One race certain to be considered is the $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes over seven furlongs Aug. 24. The Pat O’Brien is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth to the BC Dirt Mile here in the autumn to the winner.

Sahara Sky, the winner of the 2013 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park, was last of six in the Triple Bend Stakes.

“He was flat,” said Dan Ward, assistant to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. “He didn’t run.”

Ward said that Sahara Sky will be evaluated in an attempt to better understand the loss.

The Hollendorfer stable started Parranda, who won Saturday’s Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes for fillies and mares over a mile on turf. Parranda always was near the front and finished a neck in front of Kathleen Rose, who set the pace. Parranda was the 2-1 favorite.

Earlier this year, Parranda won the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes over a mile on turf before finishing third in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf May 26.

Ward said Parranda is a candidate for the $250,000 John Mabee Stakes over 1 1/ 8 miles on turf Aug. 10.