Sunset Glow Might Tackle Males in Futurity
Ten Broeck Farm, Inc.’s Sunset Glow, a 3 ¼-length winner of Wednesday’s Grade II $200,000 Sorrento Stakes, was comfortable in her stall at Blake Heap’s barn in the Del Mar stable area Thursday morning.
And Heap, who handles the West Coast shippers for trainer Wesley Ward, was comfortable with an idea Ward put forth in a phone conversation Wednesday night.
“He said ‘Don’t be afraid to think about the Futurity,’ ” Heap said. “We’re going to give her a few days (to recover) then see how she trains and let her tell us what to do. Wesley’s got a lot of horses, he runs all over the world. He knows that, especially as 2-year-olds, fillies can be as good as colts and beat them. We’re about the only country where (females against males) isn’t done very often.”
Sunset Glow, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Exchange Rate, was purchased for $140,000 at the Keeneland September sale. Her four starts, producing two wins and earnings of $197,645, have been at Presque Isle Downs, Pennsylvania on May 13, Belmont Park, New York on June 6, Ascot, England on June 20 and Del Mar on Wednesday.
The Sorrento victory stamps her among the favorites for the $300,000, Grade I Del Mar Debutante on August 30. The $300,000 Grade I Del Mar Futurity is four days later, on the closing day of the meeting, Wednesday, September 3.
Sunset Glow’s time for 6 ½ furlongs in the Sorrento was 1:16.61. On Sunday, 2-year-old colt Skyway won the Best Pal over the same course in 1:16.67.
While fillies have competed in the Futurity in recent years, the race hasn’t been won by a female runner since Lost Kitty completed a Debutante-Futurity double for co-owner/trainer D. Wayne Lukas and Eugene Klein in 1987.
Sorrento runner-up La Grange was “a little sore” Thursday morning, possibly from stumbling badly out of the gate, reported Julie Clark, assistant to trainer J. Keith Desormeaux. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Curlin was bright and eating well and remains a strong possibility for the Debutante.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said that Heart of Paradise, third in the Sorrento, and Caval, last as the even-money favorite, both came out of the race fine. He offered no explanation regarding the performance of Caval, who was eased in the final furlong.