Sircat Sally may point to Senorita Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sircat Sally has outgrown the California-bred division.

Unbeaten in five starts, Sircat Sally won her graded stakes debut in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes on turf at Santa Anita last Saturday. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said he is considering the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf May 6 for Sircat Sally’s next start. The $100,000 Senorita could lead to an appearance in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies June 17.

“She’s doing well on turf,” Hollendorfer said.

Owned by breeder Joe Turner, Sircat Sally has won four consecutive stakes, the last three on turf – the California Cup Oaks against statebreds in January, the China Doll Stakes against open company March 11, and the Providencia.

In the Providencia at 1 1/8 miles, Sircat Sally led throughout under jockey Mike Smith. She repelled a brief threat in early stretch to win by 2 1/4 lengths over You Missed It.

While Hollendorfer is focused on grass races, he said there is a chance that Sircat Sally will run in the $200,000 Melair Stakes for California-bred fillies at 1 1/16 miles on May 29.

The Melair Stakes may include S Y Sky, who won her debut in Saturday’s $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Ridden by Joe Talamo for trainer Phil D’Amato, S Y Sky ($14.80) closed from third to win by 5 1/4 lengths. D’Amato said S Y Sky could start in an allowance race or the $75,000 Angels Flight Stakes at seven furlongs May 14 in her next start.

The Melair Stakes is another option, and one that piqued D’Amato’s interest when told that Sircat Sally may start on turf. “That’s a good thing,” he said. The Evening Jewel was the first of two sprint stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds on Saturday’s program.

Mr. Hinx won his first stakes and his third sprint race in the $200,345 Echo Eddie Stakes. Ridden by Tyler Baze, Mr. Hinx fought for the lead throughout and won by a nose over B Squared.

Owned by breeder Gary Barber and trained by Steve Miyadi, Mr. Hinx has won three of five starts. He was fourth in two starts around two turns on dirt but could have another attempt in such a race in the $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-yearold California-breds on April 30. Mr. Hinx won an optional claimer on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita earlier this year.

Miyadi said Sunday that the Silky Sullivan is preferred to two stakes against open company at Santa Anita on May 13 – the $75,000 Desert Code Stakes on the hillside turf course and the Grade 3 Laz Barrera Stakes at seven furlongs.

“I think the Cal-bred race would be easier,” he said. “That’s the logical plan.”

Miyadi said Mr. Hinx has something to prove in a longer race.

“It’s questionable if he can get it,” he said.

Ruis gets first win since 2007

Trainer Mick Ruis went nearly 10 years between winners.

Ruis, 57, won an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs last Saturday at Santa Anita with Rockport Babe ($38.60), his 15th starter at the meeting and his first winner since 2007.

“That feels good,” he said Sunday.

Later Sunday, Ruis won his first stakes as a trainer when the Grade 1 winner Union Strike won her first start of the year in the $79,290 Santa Paula Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Ruis quit training in late 2007 and resumed as an official trainer this year. Last year, he sold a partial interest in his company, American Scaffolding, and used some of the proceeds to fund the start of a racing stable.

His daughter Shelbe trained for him last summer and won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante with Union Strike. Last fall, Mick Ruis and Shelbe Ruis severed their working relationship, with Craig Dollase taking over the stable. Mick Ruis completed his California requirements to become a trainer earlier this year and took over the stable, which he owns with his wife, Wendy. Rockport Babe was his first winner this year. Ruis had 17 winners from 2005-07.

Union Strike, by Union Rags, has been the stable star in the last year. She could run in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Pimlico on May 19.

“I think she wants to stretch out,” Ruis said after the Santa Paula. “Her breeding says she can go long.”

Union Strike was sidelined by sore shins last winter.

“We gave her plenty of time to let her shins heal,” Ruis said. “We know we have a nice 3-year-old filly.”

Ruis has 34 horses at Santa Anita and 11 at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in San Diego County.

Rockport Babe won Saturday’s seventh race. In the eighth race, the Ruis-trained Midnight Pleasure finished 10th of 13 in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.