Sircat Sally strong favorite in Senorita Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sircat Sally has built a perfect record through five races by handling nearly anything expected of a 3-year-old filly.

“She doesn’t beat herself,” said Dan Ward, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s assistant. “She can run short on dirt, long on dirt, a mile and an eighth on turf, from off the pace. She doesn’t do anything wrong.”

Sircat Sally has won four stakes and will be heavily favored to add a fifth in Saturday’s Grade 3 Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Sircat Sally won the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf April 8 at 1-5. The $100,000 Senorita drew a field of six.

Owned by breeder Joe Turner, Sircat Sally is expected to lead in a race that lacks pace. Sircat Sally has led throughout two of her stakes wins and stalked the pace in the other two. She has won three starts on turf, all this year, including two one-mile races – the California Cup Oaks for statebreds in January and the China Doll Stakes against open company in March.

The only change from her last start is the presence of jockey Stewart Elliott, who replaces Mike Smith. On Saturday, Smith rides Girvin in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

The Senorita is the fifth race on an 11-race program that begins at noon Pacific.

Sircat Sally has beaten two of her rivals. Beau Recall was second in the China Doll. Tiburtina was fifth in the Providencia. Helen Hillary and Pacific Wind won maiden races in their last starts. Sky Ring was second in an optional claimer on April 2.

Pacific Wind scored a 13-1 upset in a maiden race at a mile on turf March 4. Trainer Peter Eurton is hoping to use the Senorita as a prep for the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf June 17, a race likely to draw Sircat Sally.

Eurton said a placing against Sircat Sally on Saturday is his best hope.

“We’ll let her place herself and see how she goes,” he said. “I have no dream of beating that other filly.”

◗ Sharp Samurai will have his stakes debut in Saturday’s $75,000 Singletary Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf on the strength of a sharp win last month in his debut on the surface.

Trained by Mark Glatt, Sharp Samurai won an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf by 2 1/4 lengths on April 6, the best performance of his four-race career.

Glatt considers the Singletary a prep for the Del Mar summer meeting, where turf races are an emphasis for 3-year-olds.

“He ran well the other day,” Glatt said. “This is the best opportunity in the short term. He’s got enough tactical speed that he can be placed well enough at a mile. We wish we weren’t shortening up in distance.”

The field of 10 includes two stakes winners – Vending Machine, who won the Eddie Logan Stakes in December, and Bowies Hero, who won the Zuma Beach Stakes last October.

Ventry Bay, third in the Zuma Beach Stakes, is the lone shipper. Trained by Wesley Ward, Ventry Bay was third in an allowance race at Turfway Park on March 17.

The Singletary is the stakes debut for Double Touch, who was second to Sharp Samurai last month in his American debut.

“He may find the distance a little short,” trainer Dan Blacker said. “He’s a lot sharper than he was a month ago. Hopefully, he can make up two lengths on Mark Glatt’s horse, who looks like the one to beat.”