Sneaking Out had a rough month of May but can get back on track in the Melair Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sneaking Out had a rough time in stakes against open company at Santa Anita in May.

She finished first in the Angels Flight Stakes at seven furlongs on May 4, but was disqualified and placed second for a bumping incident in the stretch. In the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on May 26, Sneaking Out led to deep stretch as the 4-5 favorite but was caught, finishing a half-length behind My Majestic Rose.

Prior to those races, Sneaking Out won her stakes debut in the $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for statebred 3-year-old fillies on April 6. She is back in the statebred division in Sunday’s $200,000 Melair Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

Sneaking Out, who has won 3 of 6 starts, will break from the rail and is likely to be part of the pace under jockey Drayden Van Dyke. Owned by KMN Racing and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Sneaking Out is the only stakes winner in a field of six.

Hollendorfer said he is not concerned about Sneaking Out negotiating the distance.

“I think she can do that just fine,” he said. “She’s a real nice filly and easy to train, very businesslike.”

A greater concern is whether runners such as Don’t Sell or Violette Szabo pressure Sneaking Out for the lead. Sneaking Out has won from the front, but was equally as effective in the Evening Jewel Stakes after stalking the pace.

The distance is a test for Don’t Sell and Violette Szabo.

Don’t Sell won five-furlong turf races on May 12 and June 8 and will be making her stakes debut and first start at 1 1/16 miles in the Melair Stakes. Violette Szabo was fourth in the Evening Jewel after leading on the turn and will have her first start at 1 1/16 miles on Sunday.

Eddie Haskell tops Siren Lure

The $75,000 Siren Lure Stakes at five furlongs on turf is the first of four stakes on Sunday’s 10-race program. The race conditions are ideal for Eddie Haskell, a 6-year-old gelding who has won 7 of 10 starts on turf at the distance.

Eddie Haskell won the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at five furlongs on turf May 25, finishing 1 3/4 lengths in front of What’sontheagenda, who is part of the Siren Lure field.

Trained by Mark Glatt, Eddie Haskell drew the rail in a field of five in the Siren Lure. He is quick enough to lead under jockey Kent Desormeaux, but could yield the early advantage to What’sontheagenda, who has frequently shown a greater capacity to take early command.

“The one hole presents a bit of a challenge for him,” Glatt said. “We’ll leave that up to Kent to maneuver and how he breaks and how the other speed horse breaks. If the other horse were to clear off and we can get off the rail a little bit, be in the clear and have a chance to run that horse down, that would be an ideal trip.

“He looks very tough in the race. We hope he maintains his current form.”

The field also includes Brandothebartender, who won the California Flag Stakes at five furlongs on turf last October, and was fourth in the Daytona Stakes.