Yours Sincerely looks to show off turn of foot again in Juvenile Fillies Turf
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In a way, Yours Sincerely only ran the last furlong of a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies on Aug. 16 at Del Mar.
After a slow start, she was ninth in early stretch. Very quickly, Yours Sincerely closed with a rush to win the one-mile turf race by 1 1/4 lengths.
The eye-catching rally was quite an American debut for the Irish-bred Yours Sincerely, who starts with an outstanding chance in Saturday’s $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Yours Sincerely drew post 11 in a field of 13 and is once again likely to race as a closer, according to trainer Phil D’Amato.
“She looks like she found her style in that race,” D’Amato said.
Yours Sincerely was third and fourth in two maiden races for sprinters in Ireland in the first two weeks of June before she was sent to D’Amato. By the Invincible Spirit stallion Cable Bay, Yours Sincerely races for a partnership that includes Sandra Benowitz, John Rochfort, and Madaket Stable.
Yours Sincerely, who will be ridden by Ricky Gonzalez, is one of eight maiden winners in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, and one of two who have won at a mile along with Soaring Angel.
For Yours Sincerely, a win at a mile is a big advantage, D’Amato said.
“We know the filly likes the course and distance,” D’Amato said. “Those are two big edges.
“There are a lot of horses that have not run two turns. I’m imagining there will be a decent pace. It should set up well for her.”
Yours Sincerely was timed in 1:37.90, while Soaring Angel ran a mile on turf in 1:38.39 on July 26. Soaring Angel, a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes winner Johannes, was always near the front in her maiden race win.
Tim Yakteen trains Soaring Angel as well as South Bay, who won a maiden race at five furlongs on turf by 1 1/4 lengths on Aug. 2. By Omaha Beach, South Bay stalked the early pace in that race before taking the lead in early stretch.
Yakteen said Thursday that a longer race is not a concern with South Bay.
“Pedigree-wise, she should handle the distance,” he said. “She’s very push button. I’m happy with the way we’re going into the race.
“She doesn’t haven’t to be on the lead. The pace should be pretty legit.”
The Juvenile Fillies Turf is the first start of the summer for La Ville Lumiere and Queen Bay, who won divisions of maiden races at five furlongs on turf on May 30 at Santa Anita. Both are likely to show speed Saturday.
La Ville Lumiere, trained by Michael McCarthy, drew the inside post. She has worked quickly at times this summer, including a half-mile on dirt in 46.80 seconds from the gate Aug. 2.
Queen Bay, trained by Simon Callaghan, was always near the front on May 30, pulling away late to win by an attractive 2 1/4 lengths.
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