Azeri Stakes a Good Possibility for Sarah Sis

Trainer Ingrid Mason said Wednesday morning “there’s a good possibility” multiple graded stakes Sarah Sis will run in the $300,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 19 at Oaklawn instead of traveling to Florida for the $200,000 Inside Information Stakes (G2) the same day at Gulfstream Park.

“The trip that I planned to Gulfstream, it’s kind of a fiasco trying to get her on a plane,” Mason said.

Mason said if Sarah Sis doesn’t run in the Azeri, she’ll be pointed for the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1) April 9 at Keeneland. The Madison is the same distance (7 furlongs) as the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 5 at Santa Anita, which is Sarah Sis’ year-end objective.

Sarah Sis, in her last start, ran fourth in the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Feb. 14 at Oaklawn. The Bayakoa and Azeri are both 1 1/16 miles. She won at 1 1/16 miles in last year’s $150,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn.

A Big Factor?

Multiple stakes winner The Pickett Factor is scheduled to make his 2016 local debut in Saturday’s sixth race, an allowance/optional claimer for older horses at a mile.

The Pickett Factor, a 4-year-old Gold Tribute gelding trained by Ralph Irwin, won his career debut at the 2015 Oaklawn meeting. He then went through his allowance conditions at Louisiana Downs before winning the $100,000 Super Derby Prelude Stakes Aug. 8 and running fourth in the $400,000 Super Derby (G2) Sept. 12.

The Pickett Factor closed 2015 with two dominating stakes victories against Louisiana-bred competition, including the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Dec. 12 at Fair Grounds. He has bankrolled $298,640 after winning 6 of 8 starts last year.

“We’ve been real blessed to have him,” Irwin said during training hours Thursday morning. “He’s been very good to us.”

The Pickett Factor returns to allowance company after finishing third, beaten 1 ¾ lengths as the 3-5 favorite, in his 4-year-old debut in the $200,000 Premier Night Championship Stakes Feb. 6 at Delta Downs.

“Things didn’t develop the way we wanted them to,” Irwin said. “It was somewhat of a rough trip.”

The Pickett Factor is scheduled to break from post 6 Saturday under Luis Quinonez and carry equal top weight of 122 pounds. Irwin said Saturday’s race, which also drew the likes of Regally Ready, Texas Bling, The Truth Or Else and Poseidon’s Way, will give him a line on where The Pickett Factor fits in the local older handicap division.

“If he runs where he shows he can compete with the Oaklawn stock, then we’d like to run him here,” Irwin said.

Irwin trains The Pickett Factor for longtime client Melissa Cantacuzene.

Probable post time Saturday’s sixth race is 3:39 p.m. (Central).

Source: Oaklawn Park