Sunday Rules remains unbeaten in Spring Fever

ARCADIA, Calif. - Sunday Rules may be outgrowing California-breds.

Saturday, Sunday Rules remained unbeaten in five races with a three-length win in the $150,250 Spring Fever Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs at Santa Anita.

The win could lead to a start against open company, perhaps in the $200,000 Great Lady M Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on July 11.

In the Spring Fever Stakes, Sunday Rules paid $2.60 and was timed in 1:08.93.

Sunday Rules took the lead from Tribal Gal shortly after the start and was in control of the race by early stretch. Jockey Tyler Baze said that Sunday Rules was toying with the competition to an extent.

“She likes the competition,” he said. “She was flicking her ears back and forth. She likes having horses around her.”

Sunday Rules led by two lengths with a furlong remaining and was not challenged late.

“I don’t think we’ve gotten to the bottom of her,” Baze said. “She’s very talented.”

Sunday Rules races for breeder Nick Alexander and trainer Phil D’Amato. A 4-year-old by Tribal Rule, Sunday Rules has won $314,880. The Spring Fever was her second stakes win, preceded by the Generous Portion Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar in August 2013, when the filly was trained by the late Mike Mitchell. D’Amato was Mitchell’s assistant trainer at the time.

D’Amato trained the exacta in the Saturday’s Spring Fever. Sidepocket Run, a 35-1 outsider, closed from fourth to finish second, a nose in front of Tribal Gal, who was followed by Meinertzhageni, Harlington’s Rose and Shakeitupbetty.