Sam's Sister Stuns Taris in Quick La Brea

Outsider Sam's Sister ran down a tiring odds-on favorite Taris in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies on opening day at Santa Anita Park Dec. 26 .

In her first start since being purchased at auction for $2.35 million, Taris took the lead along the inside soon after the start and was leading by about four lengths approaching the furlong marker after posting sizzling opening fractions. But the 7-10 choice weakened noticeably in deep stretch and was caught in the final strides by 12-1 shot Sam's Sister, who surged past by half a length in a time of 1:22.52.

Ridden to victory by Elvis Trujillo in her stakes debut, Sam's Sister provided Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer with his first La Brea triumph. Hollendorfer owns the Kentucky-bred daughter of Brother Derek in partnership with longtime Washington clients Mark Dedomenico and George Todaro.

"I had a perfect trip," said Trujillo after also claiming his first La Brea win. "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 (aboard Taris) working and I could see her tail flapping so I knew I had it. I came flying and I caught them right away."

Brereton C. Jones bred Sam's Sister, a $125,000 Keeneland September yearling. The chestnut filly is out of the Include   mare Kittery Point. Sam's Sister is the first grade I winner for her sire Brother Derek, who stood at Airdrie Stud for a $5,000 fee in 2014.

Taris held for second, and Thank You Marylou finished third.

Sam's Sister paid $27, $7.80, and $4.20, topping a $79.60 exacta with Taris, who returned $2.60 and $2.20. Thank You Marylou paid $2.80 to show.



Debuting this summer, lightly raced Sam's Sister won the first three starts of her career. She faded to eighth in her turf debut at Del Mar in her most recent start, an allowance/optional claiming race at five furlongs Nov. 21.



In a strong field, she was easily overlooked as bettors gravitated to Taris, who was making her first start since being purchased Nov. 3 at the Fasig-Tipton November sale.

"We really wanted to run in this race," Hollendorfer said. "It's nice to knock off a grade I on opening day. We were afraid of (Taris), but we didn't want to duck her. She was well meant, so I think we beat a really nice filly."



Leaving from the rail, Taris was a little slow to start before rushing up on the inside of 68-1 shot Uzziel with the speedy Stonetastic and Amaranth stalking up the backstretch in the field of nine. Sam's Sister was unhurried early, settling in sixth, before advancing into position leaving the the three-eighths pole.



Taris clipped off eye-catching quarter mile splits of :21.85 and :43.97 with a half-length advantage before she pulled away from the field to open a commanding lead in upper stretch as the others fell back. But in the drive, Sam's Sister, on the outside, and Thank You Marylou, ridden by Joel Rosario, emerged from the pack. Taris was still in control at mid-stretch but was shortening stride as Sam's Sister, under some right-handed urging from Trujillo, surged through the lane to get the lead in the shadow of the wire.



Thank You Mary Lou got up for third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Taris.



Winning for the fourth time in five starts, Sam's Sister upped her earnings to $307,450.



Taris was making her first start for trainer Simon Callaghan, and is now owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and John Magnier. She had not raced since Oct. 18 when she swamped her rivals in the Lexus Raven Run Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland by nine lengths. The lack of a recent race plus the fast fractions were apparently too much for her to overcome in quest of her first grade I victory.

"I tried to get her relaxed after she broke out to the lead very easily, but I was never able to get her to be relaxed," Bejarano said of the favorite.



"By the time it came to the stretch, my horse was running on empty. My horse was still running and trying to win, but the other horse was able to pass me in the end. I still think my filly was the best horse in the race."



Thank You Marylou was coming off a third-place finish in the $ 1million Draftkings Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I).

"She put in a nice run and I thought for a second I would win," Rosario said of Thank You Marylou. "But she ran great, just third-best today."



Ramona's Wildcat finished fourth and was followed by Uzziel, More Complexity, Stonetastic, Jojo Warrior, and Amaranth. Awesome Baby was a major scratch by trainer Bob Baffert, who also entered her in the Kalookan Queen Stakes Dec. 28.