Sam's Sister defeats elders in Santa Monica

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).

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com