Sircat Sally risks unbeaten record

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sircat Sally has won all six of her races on the lead or by stalking the pace. What Sircat Sally did while on the front in the final furlong of her most recent start, the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes here May 6, has given trainer Jerry Hollendorfer confidence that her win streak will continue in Saturday’s Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita.

“In her last race, she got challenged,” Hollendorfer said Thursday. “When the rider asked her, she had a good turn of foot.”

Sircat Sally won the Senorita Stakes at a mile on turf by 1 1/2 lengths over Beau Recall, her main rival in a field of six in the $200,000 Honeymoon Stakes, which is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies.

Sircat Sally is the only multiple stakes winner in the Honeymoon. Tap It All won the California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields in February. Pacific Wind was third in the Senorita, while La Force was third in a stakes in Italy last July. Zaffinah faces a class test after consecutive wins in overnight races.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sircat Sally, by Surf Cat Last 3 Beyers: 86-78-87

◗ Sircat Sally set a slow pace in the Senorita – a half-mile in 48.45 seconds – before pulling clear in the final furlong, which she completed in 11.37 seconds. The Senorita was Sircat Sally’s second consecutive gradedstakes win, preceded by the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf here April 8.

“She’s done nothing wrong,” Hollendorfer said. “I find it hard to find fault with her at this time. She has speed, or she can be tactical.”

◗ Sircat Sally has led in most of her six wins. In the China Doll Stakes at a mile on turf in March, she was second for the first half-mile, as many as three lengths behind the leader, before winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Beau Recall.

◗ At the finish, none of her rivals has been within a length of the California-bred filly, who has earned $408,860 for owner and breeder Joe Turner.

Beau Recall, by Sir Prancealot Last 3 Beyers: 83-84-76

◗ Sircat Sally would seem to be slightly more than a length superior to Beau Recall, judging from the results of the China Doll and Senorita. Trainer Simon Callaghan hopes Beau Recall’s first start at 1 1/8 miles on Saturday will produce a different result.

“I’m pretty sure the extra distance will help,” he said.

◗ Callaghan was encouraged by Beau Recall’s performance in the Senorita, where she closed from last in a field of six with a wide rally.

“I think we ran well going into slow fractions,” he said. “That was encouraging. They had it their own way up front.”

Pacific Wind, by Curlin Beyers: 83-79

◗ Pacific Wind won her debut by an eye-catching 4 1/2 lengths on March 4 and had her stakes debut in the Senorita. Trained by Peter Eurton, Pacific Wind was third throughout and lost by 1 1/2 lengths to Sircat Sally.