Seeking the Sherif Sharp at Los Al
Claimed for $12,500 last Dec. 28, Seeking the Sherif is now a stakes winner – and track record holder - after capturing the $75,000 Katella Saturday at Los Alamitos.
The 1 ½ length victory over 5-2 second choice and pacesetter Distinctiv Passion was the fifth in eight starts for the Officer gelding since he was tagged by trainer Ron Ellis for owners Tim Goodwin and Steven and Sabina Romo-Zolotas.
Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, who has been aboard for all of Seeking the Sherif’s wins in 2014, the 5-year-old completed the six furlongs in 1:08.40, besting the previous Los Alamitos record of 1:08.57 set by When We Met two weeks earlier.
Out of the Seeking the Gold mare Seeking Adel, Seeking the Sherif has won seven of 11 in his career. Saturday’s $45,000 payday pushed his earnings to $244,100 - $222,700 of which has been earned since the claim.
Third in a pair of Polytrack races at Del Mar, including the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes when he finished behind Big Macher and eventual Pat O’Brien winner Goldencents, Seeking the Sherif was content to track while the speedy Distinctiv Passion cleared through 21.45 and 43.62 fractions for the opening half-mile.
Seeking the Sherif drew alongside Distinctiv Passion with about an eighth of a mile to run and asserted his superiority late as the 6-5 favorite. He paid $4.40, $2.60 and $2.20.
“He loved getting back on the dirt and he was very game,’’ said Ellis. “That was exactly the trip I thought we would get because (Distinctiv Passion) is about three lengths faster than us. Perfect ride and exactly what I envisioned.’’
Making his first start since finishing eighth of 11 in the Grade I Malibu Stakes last Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, Distinctiv Passion returned $3.40 and $2.40 while finishing one length in front of 7-2 third choice Spirit Rules. The show price on Spirit Rules was $2.40. Completing the order of finish were Drill and Regally Soul.
The Katella was the second of three wins Saturday for Maldonado, following Runninwithelute’s victory in the third and before Rainbow North’s score in the ninth.
Heading into the final day of the Fall meet, Maldonado has eight winners, one less than co-leaders Fernando Perez and Drayden Van Dyke. Martin Pedroza is fourth with seven victories.
Maldonado, Van Dyke and Perez are named on five horses Sunday, one more than Pedroza.
Doug O’Neill and Mike Puype remain tied atop the trainer standings. Both have six wins, one more than Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
Racing resumes Sunday at Los Alamitos. Post time for closing day of the inaugural Fall meet is 2 p.m.
The main event on the nine-race card is the $75,000 Las Madrinas Stakes for filles and mares (3-year-olds & up) at 1 1/16 miles.
My Happy Face, who is in search of her first victory in California, is the 6-5 morning line favorite against four opponents.
Trained by Peter Miller for Michael Dubb and Rockingham Ranch, the 4-year-old gray daughter of Tiz Wonderful returns to dirt after consecutive races on the Polytrack at Del Mar. All three of her wins came on the main track at Aqueduct and Belmont Park for former trainers Rudy Rodriguez and Chad Brown.
Second behind the recently-retired Princess of Sylmar in the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks July 20, 2013 at Saratoga, My Happy Face will break from the outside and be ridden by Elvis Trujillo.
The Las Madrinas goes as the fifth race. Approximate post time is 4 p.m.
Source: Los Alamitos Race Course