Albany, Calif. (April 30, 2017) — The first stakes race of the Cal-Bred Turf Festival was the $100,000 Campanile. It was for three year old California-sired fillies. Miss Sunset, ridden by Juan Hernandez, was today’s betting favorite, and took the race wire to wire, but it wasn’t a stroll. Breaking alertly, Miss Sunset had problems on the first turn and was caught in the stretch, but fought back gamely to win late by ¾ lengths. Miss Sunset is trained by Jeff Bonde and bred by Premier Thoroughbreds. She is a product of Into Mischief out of Tuscan Sunset. Coming second in today’s first stake was Radish, trained by Doug O’Neill. Radish pressed the pace, but fell short in the late stretch duel. The 1 mile turf race was completed in 1:39.20 and Miss Sunset paid $3.20 for today’s efforts.
“She’s been a fun horse, given everybody a lot of thrills. I figured that this filly would clear my other horse, who was stalking nice, but got intimated on rail. She’s Cal-bred so she’ll get a lot more opportunities. She’ll be a fun horse at Del Mar. You always wonder if a couple speed horses will hurt each other because pace makes the race no matter where you run, but that filly, Lucky Christiana, didn’t break so it made it easier on our horse. She still jumped at the half mile pole. She has a habit of seeing better than the average Joe and that hurt her in a couple races, but today it wasn’t enough to make a difference and she came with her best race,” said trainer Jeff Bonde.
“The plan was, I had the speed horse and they sent me. I thought the six horse was going to be with, but I was alone on the front and it was slow pace so it was really nice. She ran nice on the turf. She is a nice filly,” said jockey Juan Hernandez. Hernandez was also the winner of yesterday’s GIII San Francisco Mile.
Today’s second Cal-bred stake race was the Silky Sullivan and was for California-sired three year olds. The betting favorite, B Squared, also took this one home. B Squared was ridden and trained by Kentucky Derby winning duo, jockey Mario Gutierrez and trainer Doug O’Neill. B Sqaured ran off the pace to the second turn, but responded determinedly in the stretch to win by a length and ¼. Elwood J ran just off the pace, before taking the lead at the ½ mile pole. Elwood J tried to hold off B Squared, but was overtaken in the stretch. The 1 mile turf race was completed in 1:37.56 and B Squared paid $5.60 for today’s efforts.
“What a great ride and we got to thank Paul Reddam and the guys who did all the work. What a beautiful race. In this sport no matter what the purse is with all the hard work that goes in when horses do well, it’s very rewarding. We’re so proud of the whole team. It’s expensive to breed and raise a horse so it’s so important to have this program (Golden State Series). You’ve really got to incentives the breeding. It’s a great program. It’s great to be part of Square Eddie Bloodlines,” said trainer Doug O’Neill.
“We broke out of the gate really sharp. I didn’t have to hustle my horse out of the gate. I didn’t have to fight him to relax him. I think that was the key to today; he relaxed beautifully. Turning for home he was a little bit green, and the horse on the inside kept the fight going, which made him motivated. My horse was very game though. I just called on him, and I could feel him pushing forward and I was not afraid of who was coming close after that,” said jockey Mario Gutierrez.
Next Saturday, May 6, is the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby. Join us for a day of Derby Festivities, including a hat contest, cigar bar, and plenty of Mint Juleps. The following Sunday, May 7, is the start of the concert series and live music will run every Sunday until June 18th. It was also be Dollar Day; enjoy a $1 Mimosa, $1 Beer, $1 Hot Dog, $1 General Admission, $1 General Parking, and $1 Program all day long.