Sircat Sally may point to Grade 3 Senorita Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sircat Sally has outgrown the California-bred division.

Unbeaten in five starts, Sircat Sally won her graded-stakes debut in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes on turf at Santa Anita last Saturday. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said he is considering the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf May 6 for Sircat Sally’s next start. The $100,000 Senorita could lead to an appearance in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies June 17.

“She’s doing well on turf,” Hollendorfer said.

Owned by breeder Joe Turner, Sircat Sally has won four consecutive stakes, the last three on turf – the California Cup Oaks against statebreds in January, the China Doll Stakes against open company March 11, and the Providencia.

In the Providencia at 1 1/8 miles, Sircat Sally led throughout under jockey Mike Smith. She repelled a brief threat in early stretch to win by 2 1/4 lengths over You Missed It.

While Hollendorfer is focused on grass races, he said there is a chance that Sircat Sally will run in the $200,000 Melair Stakes for California-bred fillies at 1 1/16 miles on May 29.

The Melair Stakes may include S Y Sky, who won her debut in Saturday’s $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Ridden by Joe Talamo for trainer Phil D’Amato, S Y Sky ($14.80) closed from third to win by 5 1/4 lengths. D’Amato said S Y Sky could start in an allowance race or the $75,000 Angels Flight Stakes at seven furlongs May 14 in her next start.

The Melair Stakes is another option, and one that piqued D’Amato’s interest when told that Sircat Sally may start on turf.

“That’s a good thing,” he said.

The Evening Jewel was the first of two sprint stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds on Saturday’s program.

Mr. Hinx won his first stakes and his third sprint race in the $200,345 Echo Eddie Stakes. Ridden by Tyler Baze, Mr. Hinx fought for the lead throughout and won by a nose over B Squared.

Owned by breeder Gary Barber and trained by Steve Miyadi, Mr. Hinx has won three of five starts. He was fourth in two starts around two turns on dirt but could have another attempt in such a race in the $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-old California-breds on April 30. Mr. Hinx won an optional claimer on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita earlier this year.

Miyadi said Sunday that the Silky Sullivan is preferred to two stakes against open company at Santa Anita on May 13 – the $75,000 Desert Code Stakes on the hillside turf course and the Grade 3 Laz Barrera Stakes at seven furlongs.

“I think the Cal-bred race would be easier,” he said. “That’s the logical plan.”

Miyadi said Mr. Hinx has something to prove in a longer race.

“It’s questionable if he can get it,” he said.