Sam's Sister upsets La Brea in stakes debut

Overlooked at 12-1 in her stakes debut, Sam's Sister kicked on late to

capture Friday's Grade 1, $301,000

La Brea

at Santa

Anita, overhauling Taris after the heavily-favored pacesetter grew weary in deep

stretch.

Elvis Trujillo delivered a perfect ride aboard the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained

winner, maneuvering Sam's Sister into a striking position leaving the far turn,

and the chestnut remained perfect from four starts on the main track while

providing sire Brother Derek with his first Grade 1 success at stud.

"We really wanted to run in this race. It's nice to knock off a Grade 1 on

opening day," said Hollendorfer, who came back to capture the Grade 1 Malibu two

races later with Shared Belief. "We were afraid of the one horse (Taris), but we

didn't want to duck her. She was well meant, so I think we beat a really nice

filly."

A debut winner at Del Mar in late July, Sam's Sister followed with a 3

1/2-length score over entry-level allowance rivals on the Polytrack a month

later. The Kentucky-bred improved to three for three with a second level

allowance tally at Santa Anita on October 13, winning at Friday's seven-furlong

distance, and sustained her lone setback when trying turf on November 21,

trailing in an eight-horse field at Del Mar.

She paid $27 to win after stopping the teletimer in 1:22 2/5 in the La Brea.

Owned by Mark Dedomenico LLC, George Todaro and Hollendorfer, Sam's Sister has now

earned $307,450.

"When we got here to Santa Anita and reviewed the stakes schedule, we pretty

much thought that we wanted to point her for the La Brea if she was going good,"

Hollendorfer said of the return to dirt. "We had confidence in her from her

first couple of victories. We've always liked her."

Taris, who earned a whopping 115 BRIS Speed rating when capturing the October

18 Raven Run at Keeneland in her last outing, was favored at 3-5 in her first

start for new connections, selling for $2.35 million at the recent Fasig-Tipton

Kentucky November sale. The Simon Callaghan-trained filly sold rushed forward to

set the pace after breaking a step slowly, established pressured splits in :21

4/5 and :43 4/5 before shaking loose in upper stretch.

Sam's Sister settled into midpack among nine three-year-old fillies during

the early stages and advanced past horses on the far turn. She rallied four wide

into the stretch to grab second but still needed to make up 3 1/2 lengths with

only a furlong remaining. Taris obliged, shorting strides as the early exploits

suddenly exacted a severe toll, and Sam's Sister drove to a half-length decision

in the shadow of the wire.

"I had a perfect trip," Trujillo said. "I saw a lot of speed in the race when

I looked at it and three or four horses went to the lead. I sat covered up and

in the stretch, I was in the clear.

"The last sixteenth I could see Rafael (Bejarano on Taris) working and I

could see her tail flapping so I knew I had it. I came flying and I caught them

right away. She's a very nice horse. I have to thank Mr. Hollendorfer for giving

me the opportunity to ride such a nice horse."

"I just told him (Trujillo) I thought the three path was really good today

and that he had an ideal post and he should try to be there, but I think he went

inside and then went outside," the trainer added. "He did a good job and the end

result was good so I'm very pleased."

Taris held second by 1 3/4 lengths from the late-running Thank You Marylou in

third.

Bred by Brereton C. Jones, Sam's Sister sold for $125,000 at the 2012

Keeneland September yearling sale. She's out of the Include mare Kittery Point,

a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Tiffany Diamond. This is also the

immediate female family of Grade 1-winning fillies Check the Label, Include Me

Out and Sweet Talker.

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