Miss Sunset eyes Keeneland route to Breeders' Cup

Miss Sunset, the winner of Monday’s CERF Stakes at Del Mar, is bound for Kentucky and the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 6. Trainer Jeff Bonde is hopeful it will be a two-race journey and Miss Sunset will remain in Kentucky for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

The $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes is for fillies and mares at six furlongs. The winner receives a fees-paid berth for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

In the CERF Stakes at six furlongs, Miss Sunset was confidently ridden by Mike Smith, stalking the pace before winning by 1 1/2 lengths as the 3-5 favorite.

Owned by Alan Klein and Phil Lebherz, Miss Sunset has won 10 of 18 starts and earned $879,395.

Last Sunday, the Bonde-trained King of Speed won for the first time in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, giving jockey Gary Stevens his 100th stakes win at Del Mar. Owned by Davie and John Del Secco, King of Speed will be pointed for the $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes at a mile on turf for 2-year-olds at Santa Anita on Oct. 8 with a potential trip to the BC Juvenile Turf on Nov. 2 under consideration.

Bonde said King of Speed has needed experience to develop this year. The Del Mar Juvenile Turf was his fifth start.

“He’s a big, dumb teenager, and he finally figured it out,” Bonde said. “Gary kept saying he was a good horse.”