Sircat Sally likely for two stakes starts at Del Mar meet

ARCADIA, Calif. - Sircat Sally has compiled a seven-race victory streak since November by winning a sprint, two stakes for California-bred fillies, a minor stakes against open company, and three graded stakes.

After winning the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, her most prestigious win, attention has turned toward the Del Mar summer meeting, where Sircat Sally is expected to have two starts in graded stakes on turf for 3-year-old fillies.

Her unbeaten status will face a stern test in coming weeks.

Sircat Sally, who races for owner and breeder Joe Turner and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, is likely to run in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at a mile on July 23, and the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 19.

The $200,000 San Clemente is often a competitive race. Since 2012, the race has drawn fields of 7, 9, 12, 6, and 10. Eden’s Moon, the 2012 winner, was the last winning favorite. Tepin was second, at 18-1, to Istanford in 2014. Tepin was the champion turf female in 2015 and 2016.

The Del Mar Oaks frequently has a runner or two from New York or Kentucky, and occasionally Europe, attempting to plunder a Grade 1 race with a lucrative purse.

Hollendorfer said grass racing will be the immediate focus for Sircat Sally, even though she has won twice on dirt, including the Soviet Problem Stakes for Cal-bred 2-year-old fillies at a mile by 12 lengths at Los Alamitos last December.

“We’re happy with the way she’s running on turf,” Hollendorfer said. “I don’t know if she’s better on turf. She can do different things.”

The versatility extends to race tactics. In her seven wins, which range from six furlongs to the Honeymoon distance of 1 1/8 miles, Sircat Sally has led throughout or stalked the pace.

In the Honeymoon, Sircat Sally was rated in second behind the longshot Tap It All before taking the lead in early stretch. Sircat Sally was challenged in the final furlong, holding off a sustained threat from Beau Recall to win by a half-length, her smallest margin of victory.

“I didn’t think that other filly would get her, but I’ve been wrong before,” Hollendorfer said.

Sircat Sally is by Surf Cat and out of Sister Sally, by In Excess. Sister Sally won twice at Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields in 2008 and ended her eight-race career in a $25,000 claiming race.

Sircat Sally, who has earned $528,860, has impressed Hollendorfer since last fall, well before the start of her career.

“She’s really professional,” he said. “Not much bothers her. She learned very fast, a very smart filly.”