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Sam's Sister defeats elders in Santa Monica

Sam's Sister rallied in a reprise of her La Brea performance (Benoit Photo) Last seen mowing down her contemporaries in the December 26 La Brea (G1), Sam's Sister (Brother Derek) had two options at Santa Anita: stick with four-year-olds but stretch out to two turns in last Saturday's La Canada (G2), or stay at the seven-furlong trip but face older horses in Monday's $200,250 Santa Monica (G2). Hall of Fame trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer scratched her from the 1 1/16-mile La Canada, which he won with the impressive Thegirlinthatsong (My Golden Song), and Sam's Sister proved his judgment spot-on by completing the double in the Santa Monica. "I'm just taking these races one at a time," Hollendofer said when asked if she might stretch out. "We thought she would run long, but we thought this was a more advantageous race, so that's why we went here." The 6-5 favorite with regular rider Elvis Trujillo, Sam's Sister was content to settle off the pace as she had done in the La Brea. Sweet Marini (Marino Marini) briefly grabbed a slim lead from Dancinthenightaway (Indian Charlie) and My Sweet Addiction (Tiznow) through an opening quarter in :22. Dancinthenightaway then edged ahead and threw down a half-mile in a torrid :43 4/5. While My Sweet Addiction soon gave way, Sweet Marini ratcheted up the pressure on the far turn. Dancinthenightaway was spent at the head of the lane, and Sweet Marini forged ahead at the six-furlong mark in 1:08 3/5.

But Sam's Sister was unwinding on the outside, unfazed by spotting the others five pounds. Collaring Sweet Marini inside the final furlong, the chestnut drove 1 1/4 lengths clear in a final time of 1:22 2/5 on the fast track and returned $4.40.

"It was the perfect trip," Trujillo said. "I knew there was going to be a lot of speed in there and I knew it would be fast early on. But I knew that sooner or later they would have to stop. She's a nice filly. I knew Martin (Garcia on Sweet Marini) would stop; it was too fast for three horses head-to-head."

"We got a :22 and :43 (pace set-up), so it makes it a little easier to close ground," Hollendorfer said. "We thought that might happen, but then when (her rival) kind of shook loose a little bit, it looked a little bit risky. But we were able to sustain and run her down in the end."

Harlington's Rose (Harlington) closed for third. Dancinthenightaway weakened to fourth, followed by Lexington Pearl (Elusive Quality) and the eased My Sweet Addiction. Master the Blues (Master Command) was scratched.

Sam's Sister remains perfect from five tries on the main track, with her lone blemish a troubled eighth in a November 21 turf sprint at Del Mar. Successful in her first two outings over Del Mar's Polytrack this summer, she cleared her second-level allowance condition over this track and trip October 13. The La Brea marked her stakes debut, where she got up in time to surprise the 3-5 favorite Taris (Flatter). Campaigned by Mark DeDomenico, Hollendorfer and George Todaro, she has compiled a record of 6-5-0-0, $427,450.

"We'll take a look at a few different things," Hollendorfer said of future plans.

Bred by Brereton C. Jones in Kentucky, Sam's Sister sold for $125,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. She is out of the winning Include mare Kittery Point, who placed in a non-black type stakes at Delaware Park. Kittery Point is a half-sister to multiple stakes heroine and Grade 2-placed Tiffany Diamond (Tiffany Ice), from the immediate family of Grade 1 winners Sweet Talker (Stormin Fever), Include Me Out (Include) and Check the Label (Stormin Fever).

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