Big Things Expected From Filly Surfside
If all goes according to plan, Surfside will start four times in 91 days during Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet.
The 3-year-old filly with the stylish pedigree--she’s a daughter of 1977 Triple Crown champion Seattle Slew out of 1994 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Flanders--will begin her 2000 campaign Sunday in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes.
An impressive, seven-length winner of the Hollywood Starlet last month, Surfside will be heavily favored against four opponents in the Grade III race.
After the Santa Ysabel, she is scheduled for the $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 12, the $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks a month later, then, possibly, a date with males in the $1-million Santa Anita Derby on April 8.
Running a filly in the local Derby would be nothing new for Surfside’s trainer. Wayne Lukas started also-ran Sharp Cat three years ago and won the race with Winning Colors in 1988. Winning Colors then won the Kentucky Derby four weeks later at Churchill Downs. Lukas is reminded of her when he looks at Surfside.
“She’s got the tactical speed and stride of Winning Colors,” he said. “She’s got the ability to be that good or even better.
“Surfside is a big, raw-boned, rangy filly and she has a lot of frame to grow into. She’s done really well since [the Starlet] and has put on some weight and started to fill out. I think all of her best is in front of her. I think she can be as good as any of the fillies I’ve had.”
After a troubled trip, Surfside finished third last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Owned by Bill Young’s Overbrook Farm, she has won four of six races and looks as if she won’t have serious distance limitations.
“I believe 1 1/8 miles and 1 1/4 miles are well within her scope,” Lukas said. “We have so many options with her. I think she’s going to be an even better filly the further she goes. She is getting stronger every day.”
The Grade I Las Virgenes was going to be Surfside’s first start of the year, but Lukas called an audible because she has flourished in recent weeks.
“That was an easy race for her at Hollywood Park,” he said. “She pulled up well and has been bouncing around the barn. If we waited [until the Las Virgenes] that would have been 55 days [between races] and the spacing is better this way.”
Should Surfside march through the Santa Ysabel, Las Virgenes and Santa Anita Oaks, a decision will have to be made on whether she goes in the Santa Anita Derby or heads to Keeneland for the Ashland Stakes.
“It’s looking down the road, but if she was impressive in those three races, I would say we would look very seriously at the Santa Anita Derby,” Lukas said.
Cash Run, another Lukas filly and the upset winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream Park, probably will make her 2000 debut in the $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs Jan. 23.
After her surprise victory in Florida, Cash Run was beaten as the favorite in the Golden Rod at Churchill Downs, leading some to believe she might be a one-race wonder.
“I think she’s really a good filly,” Lukas said of Cash Run. “I don’t think the Breeders’ Cup was a fluke at all. She’ll probably run on the 23rd, then, if everything goes all right, we’ll send her to Florida. We’d like to keep her and Surfside apart.”
Horse Racing Notes
Forest Camp, who faded to sixth after setting the pace in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, will shorten up today in his first race as a 3-year-old, the $100,000 San Miguel Stakes at six furlongs. Perfect in his two races around one turn, including a huge win in the Del Mar Futurity, the 7-5 favorite will have a new rider in the San Miguel. Chris McCarron replaces David Flores on the son of Deputy Minister, who is owned by Aaron and Marie Jones and trained by Bob Baffert. The co-high weight with Remember Sheikh at 121 pounds, Forest Camp drew the rail in what is now a field of six. The others will be Joopy Doopy, who won the Sunny Slope Stakes on this track during the Oak Tree meet; Swept Overboard, the 9-5 second choice; Archer City Slew, and Fortifier. Kolob was scratched Friday morning. . . .
Image Of Glory, a 9-2 shot, made it three victories in a row in the $105,900 Survive Stakes on Friday at Santa Anita. Ridden by Brice Blanc for Harris Farms Inc. and trainer Carla Gaines, the 4-year-old Skywalker filly was helped considerably when probable pacesetter Excessive Theresa broke horribly. Image Of Glory covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03 1/5. New Focus was second, Bountiful Dreamer third. Funallover, who was looking for her third consecutive win in the Survive, checked in fourth.