First winner for trainer Shelbe Ruis

Shelbe Ruis | Zoe Metz

Trainer Shelbe Ruis saddled her first career winner Sunday when longshot Rockport Babe (Rockport Harbor) upset the first race at Santa Anita at odds of 20-1. A 25-year-old native of Descanso, California, Ruis is the daughter of owner Mick Ruis, Sr. and the sister of former jockey Mick Ruis, Jr.

“I'm just really excited about this,” said Ruis, whose first racetrack job came as a summertime pony rider for the late Mike Mitchell at Del Mar at the age of 16. “This filly was my fourth starter and I didn't expect her to show that much speed. But it looked like the one was the only other horse with speed, so we told Fernando [Perez] that if she went, to try and sit second, and if she didn't, to just go.”

Rockport Babe is owned by the Ruis's father and mother, Wendy. The family's Ruis Racing LLC was active at last month's OBS April sale, purchasing five juveniles, including a $375,000 daughter of Union Rags (hip 640).

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