Sneaking Out Brings Consistent Form Into Fleet Treat

Del Mar's focus turns to the local California-breds in the seaside oval's July 18 feature, the $150,000 Fleet Treat Stakes. Seven 3-year-old fillies are entered for the seven-furlong test on the main track, which takes place the second day of the track's summer meet.

KMN Racing's homebred Sneaking Out has never finished worse than second in six lifetime starts and has raced in three consecutive stakes races. Trainer Keith Desormeaux will saddle the Indian Evening filly for the first time Thursday.

While trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, Sneaking Out picked up her first black-type win April 6 at Santa Anita Park when she came off the pace and captured the 6 1/2-furlong Evening Jewel Stakes over state-breds. Going as long as seven furlongs for the first time May 4, she crossed the wire first in the Angels Flight Stakes but was placed second when she came out in the stretch and bumped another horse.

Sneaking Out tried two turns May 26 and led almost every step of the Summertime Oaks (G2) but was caught by half a length in the 1 1/16-mile test. She was entered for the Melair Stakes at the same distance June 23, Santa Anita's closing day, but was scratched by stewards after The Stronach Group ruled Hollendorfer off its tracks, which includes Santa Anita, a day earlier.

The respective top three finishers from the Melair Stakes—Nick Alexander's homebred Ruby Bradley, Sayjay Racing's homebred Tiz a Master, and Violette Szabo, another Alexander homebred—will face off again in the Fleet Treat.

Ruby Bradley rallied from last of five to get up by half a length over Tiz a Master, who came from third. Violette Szabo led through the first half-mile before fading but returns to sprinting in the Fleet Treat, having previously beaten Ruby Bradley April 28 going 6 1/2 furlongs.

Violette Szabo, a daughter of Grazen, is a full sister to this year's Monrovia Stakes (G3) winner S Y Sky, who's also captured four other black-type stakes in California.

Jay Em Ess Stable's Takethediamondlane, a $300,000 purchase from the 2017 Barretts Select Yearling Sale from Harris Farms' consignment, is penciled in for her first career start in the Fleet Treat.

George Krikorian's homebred Hollywood Hills, second in Golden Gate Fields' Campanile Stakes on turf April 28, and Little Red Feather Racing's Opus One, who has run on turf her last four of six lifetime starts, complete the field.