(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – After winning but once in her first 10 starts, Sean S registered her third straight victory since joining the stable of Joshua Litt on Friday when triumphant by one-half length in Santa Anita’s $59,750 Wine Shed Purse for California-bred fillies and mares at 6½ furlongs over the track’s hillside turf course.

With Victor Espinoza again in the saddle, Sean S overtook 31-1 pacesetter Suances Flower in midstretch to extend her victory streak even though the runner-up battled back determinedly under David Flores. It was 2¼ lengths back to third-place Bodie Girl and jockey Joe Talamo. The final time was 1:13.72.

Litt, who trains the victorious 4-year-old filly for J B K Stables and Bill Biagianti, gave Espinoza much of the credit for the dramatic turnaround exhibited by the daughter of Ministers Wild Cat.

“Victor has helped her to show more speed, and being close up has helped a lot,” the trainer said prior to Friday’s effort. Sean S rallied from just off the pace to win a $16,000 claimer by 3¼ lengths on Dec. 10. Espinoza employed similar tactics when she came back at odds of 15-1 to take a $35,000 claimer by 2¼ lengths over the hillside turf course on Jan. 7.

He took her back to fifth behind the front-runner on Friday, however. “I changed her style a little today,” said Espinoza, “because they were going fast early, and it worked out well. She ran great.”

As the 2-1 choice, Sean S paid $6.40, $4.40 and $3.60. Suances Flower returned $32.20 and $17.40 while Bodie Girl paid $6.40 to show.

Sean S gained the biggest purse of her career, $34,800, to boost her career total to $107,350 from an overall record of 4-2-1 in 14 starts.

Sanagas, winner of the Grade I Hollywood Turf Cup, is the 8-5 morning line favorite to defeat defending champion Bourbon Bay in Saturday’s 60th running of the Grade II, $150,000 San Marcos Stakes at 1¼ miles on turf. The San Marcos goes as the ninth race on a 10-race program. First post is at 12:30 p.m.

Benoit Photo
Sean S