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Union Strike takes the Del Mar Debutante

Ruis Racing's Union Strike and jockey Martin Garcia,    draw away from heavy favorite American Cleopatra,    to win the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Debutante Saturday, September 3, 2016 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA. ©Benoit Photo
©Benoit Photo

Ruis Racing LLC’s Union Strike picked a choice spot to break her maiden, surging to the lead in the stretch of the $300,690 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1), taking charge in the final sixteenth and drawing off to win by 2-1/4 lengths despite rider Martin Garcia losing his whip in the lane. Fellow OBS graduate Champagne Room (April ’16) settled for third. Second in her only other start, the 2-year-old daughter of Union Rags is the first grade one stakes winner trained by 25 year old Shelbe Ruis. The first grade one winner for her sire as well, she has earned $192,600 to date. Consigned by Old South Farm LLC, Agent, to the 2016 OBS April Sale, she breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat before she was purchased by Ruis Racing for $375,000. watch her under tack video

William K. Helwig and Brent Gasaway’s All Right also broke his maiden in a stakes race, tracking the leaders in Saturday’s $342,855 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Stakes, taking command after turning for home and holding on to win by a neck. Fellow OBS graduate Hot Dad (April ’16) checked in third. The 2-year-old colt by Dominus was purchased for $20,000 out of the Costanzo Sales consignment at the 2016 OBS April Sale after working an eighth in :10 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. Trained by Kellyn Gorder, he’s now 2-1-1-0 and has earned $214,090. watch his under tack video