Evening Sun shines in San Francisco Mile

In the fall of 2020, Evening Sun was purchased for approximately $189,000 at a horses of racing age sale in England by California owners Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal.

A year and a half later, the purchase nearly paid for itself on one afternoon when Evening Sun won Saturday’s Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields.

Ridden by Brice Blanc for trainer Jeff Mullins, Evening Sun ($18.60) closed from the back of a field of 14 to win his stakes debut in the $250,000 San Francisco Mile, earning $150,000.

Evening Sun was timed in 1:35.36, winning for the third time in seven starts in the United States. He earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 93. Evening Sun finished first in an allowance race at Del Mar last July, but was disqualified and placed eighth.

In the San Francisco Mile, Blanc had Evening Sun along the inside on the backstretch, stalking Jimmy Blue Jeans, who set fractions of 23.24 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.54 for a half-mile.

Evening Sun was 10th with a half-mile remaining. Blanc guided Evening Sun off the rail and moved closer to the lead with a four-wide move in early stretch. Evening Sun caught stretch leader Camino Del Paraiso in the final sixteenth and held off a threat from 5-2 favorite Vanzzy to win by a half-length.

“He has a tremendous turn of foot,” Blanc said of Evening Sun in a post-race television interview.

Camino Del Pariso (30-1) finished third, a half-length behind Vanzzy.

Evening Sun, a 5-year-old British-bred gelding, was bred by the Queen of England. Evening Sun has won 4 of 14 starts and earned $269,401.

** Earlier on the program, Il Bellator ($7.40) won his first stakes in the $100,000 California Derby, edging 3-1 Boise and 9-10 Cabo Spirit in a three-horse photo. Ridden by Alejandro Gomez, Il Bellator rallied between rivals to win by a head, finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.27. Boise finished a head in front of Cabo Spirit in a field of five.

Il Bellator, who earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 79, has won 3 of 7 starts for owners and breeders Ed and Theresa DeNike and trainer Jose Bautista. Il Bellator was fourth in his stakes debut in the El Camino Real Derby in February.

** Avenue de France remained unbeaten in three starts in stakes at Golden Gate Fields with a nose win over 9-2 Buyback in the $76,350 Golden Poppy Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Avenue de France closed from sixth of eight under jockey Assael Espinoza to lead in the final strides. Last year, Avenue de France won the Luther Burbank and Miss America Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

Avenue de France ($4.80) was timed in 1:42.81 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84. Northwest Factor, a 5-1 chance, led in the stretch, and finished third.

** Anthonys Cleopatra ($4.60) had an ideal trip to win the $75,450 California Oaks, but only after she proved to be a handful for jockey Frank Alvarado in the moments before the start. Anthonys Cleopatra was unsettled in the gate, forcing Alvarado to briefly climb off the filly.

Once underway, Anthonys Cleopatra raced without incident. Anthonys Cleopatra closed from fourth of six to win the California Oaks by 3 3/4 lengths, running 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.36. Anthonys Cleopatra earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 72.

The field changed significantly in the paddock when morning-line favorite My Kentucky Girl was withdrawn after becoming upset. The filly was not injured, trainer Jonathan Wong said.

Anthonys Cleopatra, a winner of 3 of 4 starts, races for owners and breeders Cacchiotti Ranch and trainer Tim McCanna. The California Oaks was her stakes debut.

** Ultimate Bango, claimed for $32,000 at Santa Anita on April 1, held off a late threat from 7-2 Strongconstitution to win the $77,250 Lost in the Fog Stakes at six furlongs. Ridden by Catalino Martinez, Ultimate Bango ($47.80) won by a nose, finishing six furlongs in 1:09.70.

Trained by Sam Calvario, the 7-year-old Ultimate Bango earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92. Anyportinastorm, the winner of the 2021 Lost in the Fog Stakes, finished third at 9-2, beaten a length by Strongconstitution.

Strongconstitution was sixth in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 26.

** Sadie Bluegrass, the winner of two starter allowance races for former $12,500 claimers earlier this year, won her first stakes in the $77,250 Camillo Urso Stakes for fillies and mares at five furlongs on turf.

Sadie Bluegrass ($11.20) closed from sixth of 10 under jockey Armando Ayuso to win by two lengths over 4-1 Rebelation. Dynasty of Her Own (11-1) finished third.

A 5-year-old mare by Bluegrass Cat, Sadie Bluegrass, trained by Johnathan Wong, was timed in 56.90 seconds and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89.