Taris seeking winning return in Rancho Bernardo

Only seven have been entered for Del Mar’s $100,000 Rancho Bernardo H. (G3) on Sunday, but Taris will finally get the chance to avenge her half-length loss to Sam’s Sister in the December 26 La Brea S. (G1) in the 6 1/2-furlong affair.

The Simon Callaghan-trained filly had the lead throughout the La Brea, including a 3 1/2-length advantage in the Santa Anita Park stretch. However, Sam’s Sister ended up running her down to score by a half-length on the wire.

It was discovered that Taris had injured her right front ankle in the La Brea, suffering a non-displaced condylar fracture that required screws, and she underwent surgery in late December.

All this happened just one month after Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and John Magnier purchased the Flatter filly for $2.35 million out of the Fasig-Tipton November sale. One of the reasons she went for so much at that auction was her 7 3/4-length romp against Presque Isle Down allowance rivals and a nine-length domination of Keeneland’s Raven Run S. (G2).

Taris returned to the worktab in late June and recently posted a bullet five-furlong move at Del Mar. Gary Stevens will be in the saddle for the first time as the bay lass attempts to regain the winning thread in the Rancho Bernardo.

In horse racing anything is possible, but it’s hard to imagine Sam’s Sister beating Taris in the La Brea if the filly hadn’t injured herself. Sam’s Sister did add the Santa Monica S. (G2) to her resume next out while making her four-year-old bow on January 19, but has gone 0-0-1 from three starts since.

The Brother Derek filly, whose two unplaced efforts came in the Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) and Madison S. (G1), rebounded last out to be a nice third in the Desert Stormer, just a neck behind fellow Rancho Bernardo runner Wasted at Midnight in second who was making her stakes bow in that spot.

Uzziel is looking for her first win in the Rancho Bernardo since taking the Beverly J. Lewis S. nearly a year ago at Los Alamitos. Thus far this season the dark bay four-year-old has placed in the Santa Maria S. (G2), Santa Lucia S. and an allowance with unplaced runs in the Santa Margarita S. (G1) and Wilshire S. (G3) sandwiched between.

Chilean-bred Tesalina will be making just her second U.S. start here off an unplaced effort in the Desert Stormer, while multiple Group 1-placed Brazilian-bred Baruta enters the Rancho Bernardo following a pair of allowance/optional claiming wins at Santa Anita and Del Mar.

Grade 2-placed stakes winner Oscar Party completes the field.

Taris photo courtesy of Keeneland/Coady Photography