Union Strike targets Starlet Stakes

Union Strike, who finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita on Saturday, will be pointed to the $300,000 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10.

“That will do for her,” owner Mick Ruis said on Sunday.

Union Strike won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 3 for her first win. She was trained by Shelbe Ruis at the time. Craig Dollase took over training of Mick Ruis’s horses in October after the owner had a professional split with his daughter. Mick Ruis shares ownership of the stable with his wife, Wendy.

In the BC Juvenile Fillies, Union Strike finished 9 1/2 lengths behind 33-1 winner Champagne Room. Union Strike broke slowly and was steadied on the first turn before racing wide on the turn.

“She had a horrendous trip,” Mick Ruis said. “She was running at the end.”

By Union Rags, Union Strike has earned $212,600. She missed the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes on Oct. 1 because of an episode of sore shins in September. Union Strike trained steadily through October.

Ruis said on Sunday that he plans to complete accreditation to gain a trainer’s license in coming weeks and will be the trainer of Union Strike by the Starlet.

The Grade 1 Starlet Stakes is run at 1 1/16 miles and is the final Grade 1 race of the year for 2-year-old fillies.