HOT SPRINGS -- Sara Sis looked as if she belonged all along, but proved it beyond a doubt at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.
With jockey Julio Felix up, Sara Sis followed the expected early pace of D. Wayne Lucas-trained Super Saks through the first 6 furlongs of the 1 1/16th-mile, $150,000 Grade III Honeybee Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, took command at the head of the stretch and held on for a 1 1/2-length victory in 1:46.94.
Ocean Wave, the 5-2 favorite, rushed forward late to finish second. Pangburn, also at 5-2, was third.
Super Saks faded to finish last in the field of eight after setting rapid fractions on a rare sunny day at Oaklawn, where temperatures reached into the lows 60s with a crowd estimated at 20,000 in attendance.
Winning trainer Ingrid Mason had room for confidence and concern after Sarah Sis was narrowly beaten in Jan. 15 Dixie Belle at 6 furlongs and the Jan. 31 Martha Washington Stakes, her first attempt around two turns.
"You know, I felt that she was graded-stakes material, but you never know until you actually get in there and do it," Mason said.
"Obviously you like to win, but we were seeing progress and maturity," said Sara Sis owner Joe Ragsdale, referring to the previous two races. "We got beat by fine fillies both times, so we've always felt good about her."
Lukas said he simply told jockey Terry Thompson to let his filly dictate tactics.
"She's at the point now where she wants to be left alone," said Lukas, an inductee of the Racing Hall of Fame. "He [Thompson] didn't have any choice. If he'd grabbed, she'd have fought him. He didn't do anything wrong. We have to harness this natural talent she's got. She's very talented. I mean, obviously she's talented by the way she just waltzes away from good horses, but we have to be able to harness that. I've been in this situation before. I guess I'll call on 60 years of experience and see if I can figure it out."
Super Saks opened a 7-length lead through an opening quarter mile in 22.92 seconds and was 6 in front after 4 furlongs in 46.36. But the lead was down to a head over Sarah Sis through 6 furlongs in 1:12:60. Super Saks appeared through and indeed was as Sara Sis sped past, closely followed by 29-1 shot Desert Valley, who would fade in the stretch to finish sixth.
Mason said she expected Super Sak's early romp.
"We thought she would drop anchor, but when a horse gets an easy lead, you never know when they might keep going," Mason said. "Speed seemed to be holding today, so I was little bit worried when she got away so easily. But then when I saw how fast she was going, I thought, 'She's has to drop anchor.' ''
Mason said she has turned down offers that have reached as high as $700,000 for Sara Sis, with Ragsdale's approval. "We've turned them down thinking she was that kind of a quality horse," she said. "You always question it, because when someone offers you a lot of money you wonder. But, I think she has great potential to do great things, and right now I'm very excited."
"We're blessed," Ragsdale said. "Horses like this don't come around this often, so we're going to take advantage of it and enjoy while we can."
Lukas said he was impressed by the winner.
"She's solid," he said. "I'm sure she'll show up all summer. Ingrid's done a good job with her. She's brought her along well."
"Lukas is a great guy," Mason said. "I've been fortunate to be around great people, and he's one of them. He's a legend."
Mason said it is "very possible" Sarah Sis will start next in the $400,000 Grade III Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn on April 4.
Sports on 03/08/2015