By Michael Burns

Prominent Thoroughbred owner Jenny Craig has purchased Argentine Group 1 winner Carla Stripes (Arg) to race in the United States under the care of trainer Ron McAnally.

Unbeaten through her first four of five career starts at age three in her native country, Carla Stripes captured the Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena (Arg-G1) and Clasico Miguel y Tomas Juarez Celman (Arg-G2), both on the dirt at Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo to rank among Argentina’s top fillies during the first half of the 2006 season. Her lone defeat came when placing third in the Gran Premio Estrellas Distaff (Arg-G1) on June 19 at Palermo, her most recent start.

The four-year-old daughter of Candy Stripes who is out of Donna Carla, by Cipayo, was purchased secretly by Craig last fall as a surprise Christmas gift for her husband, Sidney. In order not to ruin the surprise, Craig kept the Argentine import secretly in training with McAnally.

“It wasn’t easy keeping the secret for several months,” said Craig. “The only way I was able to accomplish it was not to tell anyone other than my financial assistant and, of course, McAnally, who procured the horse for me.”

On Christmas day, Craig unveiled her surprise.

“Sid was very surprised when I handed him the framed picture, which I had wrapped along with the videotape of her races in Argentina,” Craig said.  “When he unwrapped the two he said ‘What’s this?’ After I told him, he couldn’t wait to see the video and then he really got excited.”

Carla Stripes, who has been training forwardly for her U.S. debut, according to McAnally, worked seven furlongs in 1:25.80 handily over the main track at Santa Anita Park on Saturday.

“We are looking forward to her first race which we hope will be the Paseana Stakes,” Craig said, referring to the 1 1/16-mile dirt race set for January 12 at Santa Anita Park.

The Craigs have enjoyed great fortune with former South American-bred imports, including two-time U.S. champion older mare Paseana (Arg), unbeaten Grade 1 winner Candy Ride (Arg), and Grade 2 winner Victory Stripes (Arg), all trained by McAnally and recommended by McAnally’s friend, veterinarian Ignacio Pavlovsky of Argentina.

“I know it's asking too much for her to ever be as great as Paseana but we still hope and with a little luck she will have an exciting career,” Craig said.

“We have been blessed with several great horses and we have enjoyed the thrill of watching each one run. Each one has been special in their own way. I feel that Carla Stripes will be special too.”

Michael Burns is the South American correspondent for Thoroughbred Times