Sunset Glow Undeniable in the Del Mar Debutante

Sunset Glow is on a fast track to the Breeders' Cup after a determined win in today's Del Mar Debutante.

In seven of the last 13 years, the winners and runners-up in the seven furlong Del Mar Debutante (G-1) have been competitive in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on their way to earning year-end Championship honors. This year, a field of nine hopefuls vied for the honor of standing in the Del Mar winner’s circle. The favorite, Sunset Glow broke well from post five and settled comfortably in fourth on the rail behind the paces setters SEDUIRE, WINDY FORECAST  and  STEALTH DRONE. The three pace setters blazed through opening fractions of :21.96 and :44.75. HER EMMYNENCY sat just to the outside of Sunset Glow in fourth. 

Rounding the turn, jockey Victor Espinoza expertly guided the daughter of Exchange Rate between Seduire on the rail and Her Emmynency, who was moving along with Sunset Glow.  While Seduire faded, the battle was on between Sunset Glow and Her Emmynency.  Sunset Glow stubbornly refused to Her Emmynency get past her and won by a measured half-length over her rival.  Her Emmynency was game in defeat.  Third place finisher CONQUEST ECLIPSE was a lengths back and  DAD'S PRINCESS  another length back, earned fourth place money. Victor Espinoza stated that in the last 10 or 15 yards, Sunset Glow “got a  little tired, but she didn’t want to give in, she’s such a big hearted filly.”  The final time for the seven furlongs was 1.23.12, the third-fastest time since Polytrack was installed.

Trained by Wesley Ward for Ten Broeck Farm, SUNSET GLOW (Exchange Rate - Perfectforthepart, by Dynaformer) captured the Sorrento Stakes as a prep for the Debutante.  Last year SHE’S A TIGER completed the Sorrento/Debutante double before winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (although she was DQ’d to second in the BC),  earning Championship Honors. With her victory in the Del Mar Debutante, Sunset Glow must be considered the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup.

The million dollar question is – will Sunset Glow handle the dirt? She was second on Tapeta in her debut and won a turf sprint before finishing second over the turf in the Albany Stakes at Ascot in June. She’s now twice a winner over Polytrack. The pretty gray filly breezed over the Gulfstream dirt back in March, but has been working on the Polytrack ever since. 

Sunset Glow’s pedigree is a blend of dirt and turf attributes. Her sire Exchange Rate, gets about 75% winners over dirt.His sire Danzig and Sunset Glow’s damsire Dynaformer are noted for getting turf runners, although, of course, they have sired dirt winners. Sunset Glow’s dam Perfectforthepart, a daughter of Dynaformer, raced exclusively over the turf.  She earned minor blacktype with a third place finish in the Sarah Lane's Oates Stakes at the Fairgrounds. Perfectforthepart’s four half siblings all raced over the dirt and two are winners.  The only other blacktype in the first three generations is owned by the third dam, ANDESTINE, winner of the Modesty Handicap (G-1). So far, Sunset Glow hasn’t disappointed over any surface.  Very good horses can run over anything and so far, she is a very good filly.