Union Strike heads to Kentucky for Eight Belles

ARCADIA, Calif. - Union Strike, the winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante last September and the minor Santa Paula Stakes on April 9, will start in the Grade 2 Eight Belles Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs on May 5, owner and trainer Mick Ruis said.

The $200,000 Eight Belles Stakes is run at seven furlongs, the same distance as the Del Mar Debutante.

“We like going seven-eighths,” Ruis said. “We’ll stretch her out later.”

Union Strike had her first race of 2017 in the $79,290 Santa Paula Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs. By Union Rags, Union Strike has won 2 of 5 starts and has earned $265,760.

* Jockey’s agent Joe Griffin has resumed work at Santa Anita after undergoing quadruple bypass surgery in early March.

Griffin, 69, represents Edwin Maldonado, who finished in a tie for 12th with 17 wins in the jockey standings at the winter-spring meeting that ended April 9.

Griffin said Sunday that he rested for nearly a month after the operation. Vince DeGregory booked mounts for Maldonado in Griffin’s absence.

“I’ve had so many good people help,” he said.