Lure Him In has no problem with Tapeta or Sunshine Turf
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Bob Hess Jr. admitted he was a bit concerned when learning that Saturday’s $75,000 Sunshine Turf at Gulfstream had been switched to the Tapeta track earlier that morning since his entry, Lure Him In, had never run over a synthetic surface in 22 previous starts. But the change in venue proved no issue for the California invader, who parlayed a perfect trip into a fairly convincing 2 1/2-length triumph over Siglioso in the 1 1/8-mile test restricted to older Florida-breds.
Lure Him In has been stabled with Hess’ Santa Anita-based stable since fall 2020, having shipped west after being haltered for $40,000 here several months earlier. A 5-year-old son of Khozan, Lure Him In sat a perfect trip stalking the pace of longshot Siglioso for the opening six furlongs of the Sunshine Turf, overtaking the leader on the final turn before turning back a bid from Max K. O. and edging well clear through the final furlong. Siglioso could not withstand the winner when challenged nearing the stretch, but fought on gamely to remain second-best.
Shamrocket, winner of the Sunshine Classic over the main track just a week earlier, rallied belatedly to be third, finishing three-parts of a length in front of the tiring Max K. O., who went off as the 3-2 favorite with Irad Ortiz Jr. accepting his first mount since injuring his knee two weeks ago.
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Lure Him In completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.13 and paid $11.40.
“Obviously it was a big concern when the race was switched to Tapeta this morning since he’d never been over the surface,” Hess said. “I didn’t like the decision, but I understood it. They either love it or they don’t, and fortunately he moved over it well, got a great trip and now he’s possibly found a new home. It’s opened a lot of options for him. We decided to ship him back to Florida and targeted this race, he’s a Florida-bred, so it kind of made sense, and it’s going to be a one-way trip. He’ll stay right here.”
Lovely Luvy wins Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf
Jockey Junior Alvarado completed a sweep of the afternoon’s two stakes races when returning several hours later to guide Lovely Luvy to victory as a 7-1 outsider in the $75,000 Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf.
Lovely Luvy ran down her uncoupled stablemate, the 3-2 favorite Sugar Fix, to win off by 2 1/4 widening lengths. The top two finishers are both trained by Saffie Joseph Jr.
Like the Sunshine Turf, the Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf was taken off the grass and decided over the Tapeta course
Lovely Luvy rated at the rear of the seven-horse field for six furlongs, angled to the rail while launching her bid on the final turn, tipped out three wide to engage the leaders upon settling into the stretch and readily ran down Sugar Fix to win going away. The latter prompted the pace, gained command in early stretch, but was no match for the winner. Key Biscayne was best of the others while never threatening the top pair at the end.
Lovely Luvy is owned by Sonata Stable. She ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:41.63 and returned $17.80.
“She’s had some bad luck in her races,” Joseph said of Lovely Luvy after the race. “Last time she came inside and had to take up sharply on the final turn. When the race came off the turf, I thought it would increase her chances, since she’d already run well on the Tapeta. It also gave her a little more added distance. She doesn’t have that quick turn of foot on the turf.”
Joseph was also pleased with Sugar Fix’s effort in defeat.
“Coming off the turf compromised her, since she’d never been on the Tapeta, but I thought she got a perfect trip and ran her race and when you get a perfect trip, you can’t really complain if you get beat,” Joseph said.