NEWS
Sunriver snags first Grade 1 in Hollywood Turf Cup
Posted: Saturday, December 08, 2007 7:33 PM
SUNRIVER
Benoit & Associates photo
by Mike Curry
Multiple Grade 2 winner Sunriver set an uncontested pace through leisurely fractions and cruised to his first Grade 1 win with a 2 3/4-length score in the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Hollywood Park.
The four-year-old Saint Ballado colt, a full brother to two-time champion Ashado, spurted clear on the final turn in the 1 1/2-mile race and opened a commanding advantage. Sunriver was not seriously threatened in the lane and coasted to the wire in 2:27.07 on good turf.
“With a horse like this, and the major stallion prospect he is and the pedigree he has, we were focused on getting him his first Grade 1, so it was a big step for him,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He will be racing again next year, and he'll be staying in California.”
Pletcher earned his 56th graded stakes win of the season. Pletcher moved within one graded stakes victory of equaling his own record of 57 set in 2006.
Sunriver entered off a sixth-place finish in the Pattison Canadian International Stakes (Can-G1) on October 21 at Woodbine. In the Hollywood Turf Cup, Sunriver was unchallenged on the lead through an easy opening quarter in :25.92 and a half-mile in :50.20 as the 2-to-1 second choice in the seven-horse field.
Heroi Do Bafra (Brz) stalked Sunriver from second followed by Chief Running Bear and Obrigado (Fr), while 1.70-to-1 favorite Champs Elysees (GB) and Spring House were rated in fifth and sixth, respectively. The field tightened up behind the pacesetter on the final turn and began to cut into his advantage, but Sunriver surged clear when shaken up by Gomez and surged powerfully clear entering the stretch.
A full brother to champions Banks Hill (GB) and Intercontinental (GB), Group 2 winner and leading sire Dansili (GB), and multiple Grade 1 winner Cacique (Ire), Champs Elysees finished willingly to take second but never threatened Sunriver.
Third-place finisher Spring House was 2 1/4 lengths behind Champs Elysees
An Aaron and Marie Jones homebred, Sunriver improved to six wins in 17 career starts and boosted his earnings to $816,414. Kentucky-bred Sunriver is out of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Goulash, by Mari’s Book.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor
