SANTA PAULA S., $79,290, SA, 4-9, 3yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:15.92, ft.
1–UNION STRIKE, 124, f, 3, by Union Rags
1st Dam: Classic Strike, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Classic Hostess, by Red Ransom
3rd Dam: Court Hostess, by Sovereign Dancer
($170,000 Wlg '14 KEENOV; $130,000 RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP;
$375,000 2yo '16 OBSAPR). O-Ruis Racing LLC; B-Pollock
Farms, Brian Kahn, Taylor Brothers Property, et al (KY); T-Mick
Ruis; J-Brice Blanc. $47,160. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-2-1-0,
$265,760. *1/2 to Handsome Mike (Scat Daddy), MGSW,
$1,005,413; and Classic Sense (Street Sense), SP, $159,340.[bullet ad=”hidden-brook-sales-graduate”][bullet ad=”taylor-made-tm-for-you”][bullet ad=”mcmahon-and-hill-purchased-as-a-foal”]2–Selcourt, 120, f, 3, Tiz Wonderful–Azure Spring, by Open
Forum. O-Medallion Racing, Keith Abrahams & Sandra Lazaruk;
B-Keith Abrahams (KY); T-John W. Sadler. $15,720.
3–Auntjenn, 120, f, 3, Uncle Mo–World Event, by Quiet
American. ($52,000 Wlg '14 KEENOV; $160,000 Ylg '15
KEESEP). O-Ike & Dawn Thrash; B-Kathie Maybee & Southern
Comfort Farm, LLC (KY); T-Peter Miller. $9,432.[bullet ad=”mauk-equine-private-weanling-sale”][bullet ad=”gainesway-consigned-by”][bullet ad=”eaton-sold”]Margins: 1HF, 3 1/4, NO. Odds: 9.10, 1.30, 27.70.
Also Ran: Life's Blessings, Mistressofthenight, Chalon, Charlatana.
Union Strike, victress of the GI Del Mar Debutante last summer, got back on track after a pair of off-the-board finishes with a sharp victory in the Santa Paula S. at Santa Anita.
Second on debut July 31 at Del Mar, the $375,000 OBS April buy broke her maiden at 77-10 in the Debutante for trainer Shelbe Ruis, but was sixth after a tough trip first out for Craig Dollase in the GI 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies here Nov. 5 and made no impact when fifth in the GI Starlet S. Dec. 10 at Los Alamitos.
Returning with several bullet works over the Arcadia training strip, the dark bay was away in midpack at a generous 9-1 and settled in fourth behind a pressured :21.85 quarter, set by favored 'TDN Rising Star' Selcourt. As the chalk shook away from her pace pursuer passing a half in :44.65, Union Strike wound up four-deep, and she set upon the leader quickly approaching the eighth pole, soon drawing clear under hand urging to score convincingly. The win was the 1,000th for jockey Brice Blanc.
The winner's dam is responsible for a 2-year-old Scat Daddy filly named Pretty Lady and foaled a colt by Broken Vow last term before being bred to Honor Code. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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