Sharla Rae Upsets Del Mar Oaks
Updated: August 15, 2015 at 11:12 pm
Sharla Rae, splitting the field when seventh at 33-1 behind the brilliant Lady Eli (Dvine Park) in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational July 4, returned to California to post a career high here. Sitting a perfect trip while saving ground in third through a half mile in :46.63, Sharla Rae was angled out for her run at the top of the lane and fought past a very game Her Emmynency for a narrow score.
“I just loved it [the way the race developed],” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “It was like we had a walkie-talkie to [jockey] James [Graham]. He was in a perfect spot and this filly has been training great. Last time she ran in New York, Joel Rosario called me after the race and said, ‘If I knew this filly, she would have won.’ He was afraid to use her early because he was afraid she’d run off. James put her in the race and she still shut it off and conserved herself.”
He continued, “What a ride by James Graham. It was a matter of me getting it right. I had her on turf, dirt, synthetic and all over the place, but this is obviously where she wants to be. She’s a quality turf filly.”
A debut winner sprinting at Los Alamitos last July, she added the Barretts Debutante S. at third asking in September and Golden Gate’s Pike Place Dancer S. a month later. Sharla Rae was given a freshening after finishing a distant ninth in the GIII Delta Downs Princess S. in late November. She got the money in Golden Gate’s California Oaks in her second attempt this term Feb. 7, then was a respectable third in the GIII Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Mar. 21. She outran her 48-1 odds with a good second at the Del Mar Oaks distance in the grassy GII Honeymoon S. at Santa Anita May 3, her final start for W C Racing. With O’Neill continuing to train for this new partnership group, she was fifth in the GI American Oaks May 30 before her aforementioned unplaced effort in New York.
Sharla Rae’s dam Jinny’s Gold (Gold Fever), second in the 2004 GIII Valley View S. at Keeneland, was bred to Uncle Mo after producing a Majestic Warrior colt in 2013.
Saturday, Del Mar
DEL MAR OAKS-GI, $300,750, DMR, 8-15, 3yo, f,
1 1/8mT, 1:46.58, fm.
1–@&SHARLA RAE, 122, f, 3, by Afleet Alex
1st Dam: Jinny’s Gold (MGSP, $200,834), by Gold Fever
2nd Dam: Nijinsky Dancer, by Upper Nile
3rd Dam: Band of Bronze, by Banderilla
($22,000 Ylg ’13 KEESEP; $50,000 RNA 2yo ’14 BARMAR). O-Brous Stable LLC, Gary Barber & Wachtel Stable; B-Mr. & Mrs. Richard S. Kaster & Frederick C. Wieting (KY); T-Doug F. O’Neill; J-James Graham. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 13-5-1-1, $436,545. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
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2–Her Emmynency, 122, f, 3, Successful Appeal–Chic Dancer, by Joyeux Danseur. ($115,000 Ylg ’13 KEESEP). O-Ike & Dawn Thrash; B-S. D. Brilie L.P. (KY); T-Michael Stidham. $60,000.
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3–Prize Exhibit (GB), 122, f, 3, Showcasing (GB)– Roodeye (GB), by Inchinor (GB). (28,000gns Ylg ’13 TAOCT). O-DP Racing, LLC; B-Mrs R. F. Johnson Houghton (GB); T-James M. Cassidy. $36,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, NK. Odds: 6.20, 14.50, 1.40.
Also Ran: Sunset Glow, Majestic Heat, Rattataptap, Paulina’s Love, Zipessa. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.