Delaware: Global Power goes wire to wire in Sussex

HoofprintsInc.com

Global Power, under Abel Castellano, holds off Slip and Drive to earn his first career stakes victory in the Sussex.

Kentucky-based colt Global Power, who earned his first career victory on turf in front-running fashion at Mountaineer Racetrack last month, proved that performance was no fluke when he stepped up to stakes company to score a surprise victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Sussex Stakes at Delaware Park.

The 1 1/16-mile Sussex was the main supporting feature on a card topped by the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap.

Global Power, who spent the first 10 races of his career in the barn of Chad Brown, was transferred this spring to the string trained by Tom Amoss at Churchill Downs. He was last of seven in his first start for Amoss in the Grade 3 Aristides on dirt, but improved dramatically when he switched to turf for a third-level optional $25,000 claimer at Mountaineer on June 23.

In the Sussex, Global Power ($19) broke on top coming out of the chute under Abel Castellano and opened up a two-length lead through a half-mile in 47.83 seconds. He was still comfortably in front by 2 1/2 lengths with an eighth of a mile remaining when 23-1 longshot Slip and Drive rallied strongly along the rail under Joe Rocco to just miss by a neck. In winning for the fifth time in 13 lifetime starts, Global Power covered the distance on a course rated firm in 1:41.61.

Slip and Drive, coming off a narrow win in a first-level allowance locally, was a half-length in front of Abilio. When 14-1 shot London Lane nosed out 6-5 favorite Utley for fourth, it triggered a superfecta that paid $3,774.70.

Dust and Diamonds ($6.20), making her first start since March 24, scored a front-running 5 3/4-length victory in the $50,000 Dashing Beauty for female sprinters.

Ridden by Mike Smith for trainer Steve Asmussen and Padua Stables, the 4-year-old Dust and Diamonds ran six furlongs in 1:09.20 to earn her first career stakes victory. Overall, she is 4 for 8.