Marketing Mix to Tackle Boys in Sunset

Glen Hill Farm’s Marketing Mix, who won a thrilling stretch battle in the Grade I Gamely May 27, probably will make her next start against males in the Grade III, $100,000 Sunset Handicap Sunday, July 14, according to trainer Tom Proctor.

“We’ll probably nominate (Marketing Mix) to the (Grade II $150,000) Royal Heroine Mile (July 6) and the Sunset, but right now we’re strongly considering the Sunset,” said Proctor. “We should get a nice weight break running against the boys.”

If Marketing Mix does indeed opt for the Sunset, it would mark her first race against males. Glen Hill Farm and Proctor would still be represented in the Royal Heroine by Customer Base, second in the recent Redondo Beach Stakes at the Royal Heroine distance of one mile on turf.

It is not unprecedented for a female to win the Sunset, which is run at 1 1-2 miles on turf. Petite Ile, a 4-year-old filly, won it for trainer Eddie Gregson in 1990 and 6-year-old Typecast was victorious for A.T. Doyle in the 1972 edition, the last time the race was two miles.

Just five weeks prior to Typecast’s victory in the Sunset, she lost by a neck to Convenience in a celebrated match race before a crowd of 53,575. The owner of Convenience? Glen Hill Farm.