From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (March 17, 2018)–In a totally dominant performance, trainer Jeff Bonde’s Miss Sunset went to the lead and was in complete command throughout out as she took Saturday’s $100,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for Golden State Series eligible fillies and mares, originally scheduled to be run down the hillside turf course, by seven lengths under Mike Smith. A 4-year-old California-bred daughter of Into Mischief, Miss Sunset got 6 ½ furlongs over a main track listed as “good” in 1:16.30.
“Yes, it went exactly to plan,” said Smith, who also guided her to gate to wire victory going six furlongs in the Spring Fever Stakes here on Feb. 25. “She’s so quick and I basically just stayed out of her way. She runs the turn so well…She got a little separation there and was able to take a breather. It makes my job easy. The way she ran today, I think she might be able to stretch out.”
The 4-5 favorite in a field of six California-bred or sired older fillies and mares, Miss Sunset paid $3.60, $3.00 and $2.60.
Owned by Alan Klein and Phillip Lebherz, Miss Sunset was also bred-in part by Klein and is out of the Trippi mare Tuscan Sunset. With the winner’s share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $738,735. Her overall mark now stands at 15-9-1-2.
“That was exciting,” said Bonde. “It was fun to watch. She ran a really good race today. She was very calm and relaxed and seems to be getting better with age. I’m not sure where her next race is yet. We’ll enjoy this one for now.”
In what seemed like a separate race, Cuddle Alert rallied to touch Desert Steel for the place by a neck. Ridden by Tyler Baze, Cuddle Alert was off at 10-1 and paid $5.60 and $3.80.
With Evin Roman up, Desert Steel was a head in front of Barbara Beatrice and paid $4.40 to show.
How About Zero, the second choice at 2-1 with Mario Gutierrez, was attentive to the pace but had nothing to offer late and finished fifth.
Fractions on the race were 22.33, 44.90 and 1:09.75.