Sircat Sally tests open company in China Doll

ARCADIA, Calif. – The undefeated Sircat Sally has won two stakes for California-breds and is probably not leaving home soon.

Sircat Sally will race outside of the statebred division for the first time Saturday in the $75,000 China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Santa Anita. She won the California Cup Oaks at a mile on turf here Jan. 28.

“She’s been very steady,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Thursday.

In the coming months, Sircat Sally is more likely to run in the $200,000 Melair Stakes for California-breds here May 29 than to travel out of town, Hollendorfer said.

“For now, we’ll leave her here,” he said.

Sircat Sally is part of an oversubscribed field of 14 in the China Doll, which will have a safety limit of 12 starters. Sircat Sally has led or stalked the pace in all three of her starts and is expected to be near the front in the China Doll.

“She can be patient,” Hollendorfer said.

The China Doll field includes the first four finishers of the Sweet Life Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course Feb. 12 – Miss Sunset, Miss Sugars, Go On Mary, and Madam Dancealot.

Miss Sunset won her turf debut, and second stakes, in the Sweet Life, leading throughout to prevail by a half-length over Miss Sugars, the winner of the Blue Norther Stakes at a mile on turf Dec. 29.

Miss Sunset will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado on Saturday in her first start around two turns.

“Her pedigree is no problem for that,” trainer Jeff Bonde said. “If we can harness her speed, it will help. She’s got a lot of try in her.”