Sherman hopes added distance, faster pace aids Show Stealer
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Photo:
Benoit Photo/Santa Anita
Show Stealer has finished second in her last two starts behind streaking Vale Dori, who led throughout in the La Canada Stakes and the Santa Maria Stakes, each a Grade II race at a mile and a sixteenth.
Trainer Art Sherman is hoping the added sixteenth of a mile in Saturday’s Grade I Santa Margarita Stakes and a faster pace will result in a victory for the five-year-old daughter of Eskendereya owned by longtime Sherman client, owner/breeder George Krikorian.
“The race has come up a little tough but my mare is doing well and she’s been running good,” Sherman said. “I’m hoping for another good performance.”
Show Stealer has been a gem of consistency. In 21 career starts, she has finished worse than fifth only twice, winning three, with four seconds and three thirds, good for a bankroll of $257,180.
“It looks like the Santa Margarita will have a good pace. There are a couple good speed horses in there,” Sherman said, alluding to the aforementioned Vale Dori and champion older female sprinter of 2016 FinestCity. “I need a lively pace up front.”
Krikorian is a native of Salem, New Hampshire, who turns 72 on July 27. He was raised in the shadows of the grandstand at old RockinghamPark in New England, where his father, George Sr., was a noted trainer.
George Jr. owned a chain of movie theatres in Southern California but sold eight locations to Regal Cinema in 1996 and later opened his own company, Krikorian Premiere Theatres. Sherman understandably is proud of their long and successful association.
“George is a super guy to train for,” Sherman said.
The field for the Santa Margarita, race nine of 10: Autumn Flower, Martin Pedroza, 20-1; Vale Dori, Rafael Bejarano, 9-5; Finest City, Tyler Baze, 8-5; Show Stealer, Kent Desormeaux, 8-1; Lady Tapit, Mario Gutierrez, 20-1; Perfect Pic, Santiago Gonzalez, 5-1; Wild At Heart, Flavien Prat, 6-1; and Estrechada, Stewart Elliott, 15-1.
Source: Santa Anita Park
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