Damon's Mound ends lengthy layoff with Sunshine Sprint victory
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HALLANDALE, Fla. – Damon’s Mound returned from a near 13-month hiatus fit and ready for his best, out-gaming Comedy Town to register a well-deserved neck victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Sunshine Sprint at Gulfstream Park. Classify, the 6-5 favorite, finished third.
Damon’s Mound, a Grade 2 winner at both 2 and 3 with former trainer Michelle Lovell, had not started since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita in late December of 2023. He was transferred to Bill Mott’s barn shortly thereafter, the Hall of Fame trainer biding his time before finally getting the homebred son of Girvin back to the races. Mott picked out a sweet spot for his return by pitting him against restricted Florida-bred competition for the first time in the six-furlong Sunshine Sprint.
With Junior Alvarado, his regular rider during the second half of his 3-year-old campaign, in the irons once again, Damon’s Mound raced in perfect striking position, stalking the early pace of longshot Banded Rocket. Damon’s Mound joined for command along with Comedy Town from between horses after the opening half then responded to vigorous handling to out-game that rival to the wire despite remaining on his left lead the entire length of the stretch.
Comedy Town advanced four wide to engage the leaders leaving the turn, loomed boldly from outside the winner down the lane but was not good enough. Classify saved ground, slipped up the rail to get within a half-length of the top pair at midstretch but could not sustain his bid. The slow starting Gatsby was fourth following by a tiring Banded Rocket. Loco Abarrio, Pure Class, and Mish were scratched.
Damon’s Mound, a homebred son of Girvin owned by Cliff and Michele Love, paid $6.40 after completing the distance over a fast track in 1:09.80 seconds.
“He seems bigger and stronger right now,” Alvarado said. “He’s been working very well and when a good horse is coming off a big layoff for Mr. Mott, he always has them 120 percent ready. And that was the case today.”
Ninja Star wins Sunshine Turf
Ninja Star became a stakes winner for the first time after out-finishing Treasure King by a half-length to capture the $75,000 Sunshine Turf, a race switched from the grass to the synthetic Tapeta course due to overnight rains. It was another length farther back to third-place finisher Anamnestic.
Ninja Star, returning against statebreds for the first time since finishing third in the Sophomore Turf 10 months earlier at Tampa Bay Downs, rallied from near the rear of the field to register his fifth victory in 20 career starts. Treasure King, last of eight after the opening six furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile Sunshine Turf, finished best of all down the center of the course but was not good enough.
Victory Achieved, undefeated in three previous tries over synthetic tracks but making his first start around two turns, was knocked around at the break, recovered to set the pace to midstretch before running out of gas to finish a disappointing fifth as the 8-5 favorite.
Ninja Star, a son of Gary D owned by Donald Ming, completed the distance in 1:41.51 seconds under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and returned $14.20.
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