Sircat Sally unbeaten after six starts with Senorita win

ARCADIA, Calif. - Sircat Sally performed as expected in Saturday’s Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at Santa Anita, leading throughout to remain unbeaten after six starts.

The experience was everything new jockey Stewart Elliott expected from the promising Sircat Sally.

“I’ve worked her twice,” he said. “I got a feel for her in the morning.

“She took off when I asked her. It was pretty comfortable.”

Sircat Sally ($2.80) won the $100,345 Senorita Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths over 5-1 Beau Recall, who closed from last in a field of six to pose a modest threat in the stretch. Sircat Sally was timed in 1:35.82 on a firm turf course.

Sircat Sally ran the final quarter-mile in 23 seconds, and set a modest pace of 24.24 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.45 for a half-mile. Sky Ring was within a half-length with a quarter-mile remaining, but could not sustain the threat when Sircat Sally began to pull clear.

“She let me know I had horse,” Elliott said. “She was serious.”

Beau Recall finished a head in front of Pacific Wind, who was followed by Spy Ring, Helen Hillary, and Tiburtina.

Sircat Sally races for owner and breeder Joe Turner and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Her unbeaten streak includes five stakes. This year, Sircat Sally has now won four races, all on turf at Santa Anita, including the California Cup Oaks for state-breds in January, the minor China Doll Stakes in May, and the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes on April 8.

By Surf Cat, Sircat Sally has earned $408,860. She is expected to try for her seventh win in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes, a $200,000 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies June 17.