Amelia's Wild Ride Up Late in Sunshine Millions Turf Sprint

Bottled up in traffic turning for home, Silver Trail Stables’ Amelia’s Wild Ride split horses in deep stretch and surged through the final sixteenth of a mile to win the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf Sprint.

Off-the-turf winner of the Woodford (G3) last fall making his first start since a fourth-place finish in the Fabulous Strike Nov. 25, the 5-year-old son of D’wildcat ran five furlongs over a good turf course in 58.51 seconds.

It was a half-length back to late-running Summation Time, the 2-1 favorite, in second, a half-length ahead of Windley Key Stakes winner Jewel of a Cat and Simon Bar Sinister, who dead-heated for third.

Noble Prince broke from the rail and headed the field before dropping back after a half-mile in 45.66 seconds. Katie’s Kiss assumed the lead before Amelia’s Wild Ride, who settled off the leaders early before swinging three-wide on the far turn, found room late.

“It wasn’t the way I really planned the race to be. Three or four of the horses had more speed than him so I let them go to the lead and sat on him,” Lezcano said. “Finally at the three-sixteenths pole it opened up and he was able to go. He’s a very nice horse, all class. He’s got a good finish.”