Sam’ Looks to Make it Three in a Row

Jerry Hollendorfer, Mark Dedomenico and George Todaro’s Sam’s Sister (Brother Derek) makes her first trip to the East Coast in hopes of capturing her third straight graded stakes success in Laurel’s GII Barbara Fritchie H. The lightly-raced chestnut opened her account with a trio of wins, starting with two victories over the Del Mar synthetic July 25 and Aug. 30, and followed by a victory on the dirt at Santa Anita Oct. 13. The Hollendorfer trainee’s only loss came when trying turf in a five-panel optional claimer back at Del Mar Nov. 21, where she finished eighth after a bad start. The 4-year-old came charging late at odds of 12-1 to defeat “TDN Rising Star” Taris (Flatter) in Santa Anita’s GI La Brea S. Dec. 26, which is run at the Barbara Fritchie’s seven-furlong distance, and scored again last time there in the track-and-trip GII Santa Monica S. Jan. 19. 

Mrs. Frank P. Wright’s Lady Sabelia (Majestic Warrior) is a bit of a Laurel specialist. Trained by Robin Graham, the dark bay has captured her last three starts here in an optional claimer Oct. 29, the Willa on the Move S. Dec. 6 and the What a Summer S. Jan. 3, all of which were run at six furlongs. The 5-year-old, who boasts an overall record of 7-5-1-1 over this course, fired a five-panel bullet in :58 4/5 here Feb. 8. 

The Mike Hushion-trained Princess Violet (Officer) seeks redemption here after missing by just a nose as the favorite in Aqueduct’s one-mile GIII Go For Wand H. last time Nov. 28. Runner-up to champion Untapable (Tapit) in last year’s GI Mother Goose S., the Barry Schwartz colorbearer captured a 6 1/2-panel Belmont allowance Oct. 5 and followed suit with a victory in that venue’s 1 1/6-mile Empire Distaff H. for New York-breds Oct. 18 prior to the Go For Wand.