Sarah's Secret, whose unbeaten streak ended at four when she weakened to finish off the board in the San Clemente Handicap (gr. IIT) this summer, returns to action in the $100,000 Harold C. Ramser Sr. Stakes (gr. IIIT) at the Santa Anita Oct. 16.
The one-mile test for 3-year-old fillies attracted 11 entrants, with Sarah's Secret and San Clemente winner Up In Time the only graded stakes winners in the field.
Trained by Kathy Walsh for breeder Joan Hadley Thoroughbreds, co-owner of the chestnut filly with Al and Sandee Kirkwood, Sarah's Secret looked most professional in winning the first four starts of her career. She captured the Honeymoon Handicap (gr. IIT) at Hollywood Park in her second start on grass June 11 and seemed poised for another big effort in the San Clemente July 24.
But a wide trip ensued and she tired to sixth, beaten by 5 1/4 lengths by Up In Time. After a freshening, Sarah's Secret was off the public work tab for more than a month before returning on Sept. 17. She has had four workouts leading up to the Ramser, most recently turning in a 1:00 2/5 drill for five furlongs on the Santa Anita main track Oct. 9.
Mike Smith takes the call for the first time on the daughter of Leroidesanimaux, who will break from post 2 while carrying 122 pounds.
Up In Time, a British-bred filly by Noverre trained by transplanted Englishman Simon Callaghan, registered an 11-1 upset in the one-mile San Clemente after finishing fifth in the Honeymoon. She returned to finish a well-beaten seventh in the Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) Aug. 20, nearly five lengths behind the victorious Summer Soiree. This will be the chestnut filly's first start since for owners Ramsden and Three Chimneys Racing. Martin Garcia will ride Up In Time, who also carries 122 pounds while breaking from post 11.
Callaghan also entered Irish-bred Imperialistic Diva, who turned in a second-place effort in her United States debut Sept. 17 in a Golden Gate Fields grass allowance at 1 1/16 miles. That was the first race in nearly a year for the Imperialistic Diva, who won once in eight starts in England while racing in a couple of group events. Kerwin John has the mount.
Two others come to the Ramser after making their most recent starts in the Del Mar Oaks. Celestial Kitten ran fifth following a third-place showing in the San Clemente for trainer Ben Cecil. Entrustment finished sixth in the Oaks, her fourth consecutive graded stakes appearance for trainer Paddy Gallagher. Entrustment was beaten by just a neck when a fast-closing fourth in the American Oaks (gr. IT) a month earlier.
There are three in the field from the Jerry Hollendorfer barn: Cathy's Crunches, Going for a Spin, and Tales in Excess.
Cathy's Crunches, a three-time stakes winner last year for owners Mark Dedomenico and Hollendorfer, leads the Ramser field in earnings with $213,580 though she is winless in five starts in 2011. The daughter of West Acre closed willingly to finish third in Del Mar's Torrey Pines Stakes on Polytrack in her most recent start Sept. 4. She must overcome the far outside post in the Ramser.
Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' Going for a Spin, coming off back-to-back optional claiming allowance wins in Northern California, makes her graded stakes debut. Tales in Excess has a win over the course and distance in the Blue Norther Stakes Dec. 31 but was out of action after that race until this summer. She ran third in an optional claimer on the grass at Del Mar in her most recent start Aug. 31.
Going for a Spin and Tales in Excess should be forwardly placed, along with Sarah's Secret.
$100,000 Harold C. Ramser Sr. Stakes (gr. IIIT, Race 8, 4:38 p.m.), 3YO Fillies, 1 Mile (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Bauble Queen (KY), J Talamo, 117, J E Kruljac
2. Sarah's Secret (KY), M E Smith, 122, K Walsh
3. Imperialistic Diva (IRE), K John, 117, S Callaghan
4. Celestial Kitten (KY), P A Valenzuela, 117, B D Cecil
5. Going for a Spin (CA), D P Vergara, 117, J Hollendorfer
6. Glowing Spirit (BRZ), O A Berrio, 117, A C Avila
7. Entrustment (KY), D R Flores, 117, P Gallagher
8. Tales in Excess (KY), V Espinoza, 117, J Hollendorfer
9. Rosehill Dew (IRE), B Blanc, 117, R L McAnally
10. Up In Time (GB), M Garcia, 122, S Callaghan
11. Cathy's Crunches (FL), C Sutherland, 117, J Hollendorfer
Sarah's Secret tries to return to the Winner's Circle in the Harold C. Ramser Sr. Stakes.
Benoit Photo