Miss Sunset fresh for Desert Stormer Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – A nose loss by Miss Sunset in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes on April 7 at Keeneland has raised expectations for what she can accomplish this year.

Miss Sunset showed in the Madison Stakes that she can be competitive against some of the nation’s top female sprinters, which makes the 4-year-old filly a realistic candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.

To get there, Sunday’s Grade 3 Desert Stormer Stakes at Santa Anita plays a role as the launch of a late-spring and summer campaign. The $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs will lead to expected appearances in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes on July 7 at Los Alamitos and the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap on Aug. 12 at Del Mar.

Miss Sunset will start in a refreshed state, trainer Jeff Bonde said. A seven-week gap between the Madison and Desert Stormer has been a benefit.

“We wanted to wait for this race,” Bonde said. “She’s been running regularly for a while, and we wanted to give her a break.”

Miss Sunset will be a strong favorite in the Desert Stormer, the leading race on a nine-race program that begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Miss Sunset, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 95-97-87

◗ Miss Sunset won two stakes for statebred fillies and mares this year – the Spring Fever Stakes at six furlongs Feb. 25 and the Irish O’Brien Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on March 17, with the latter race originally scheduled for turf. The Madison Stakes was her third start in six weeks.

“She enjoys her game,” Bonde said.

◗ Owned by breeders Alan Klein and Phil Lebherz, Miss Sunset has won 9 of 16 starts and earned $798,735. She has won by setting the pace or racing just off the lead. Aside from an eighth-place finish in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes here last December, Miss Sunset has finished in the top three in her last 11 starts.

◗ In the Madison Stakes at seven furlongs, Miss Sunset closed from fourth in a field of 10 to finish a nose behind Finley’sluckycharm and a nose in front of Lewis Bay.

“She ran a very good race,” Bonde said. “It was a collection of some nice horses.”

Marley’s Freedom, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 96-96-78

◗ She will start for trainer Bob Baffert for the first time Sunday. Owned by Cicero Farms, Marley’s Freedom was second to Selcourt in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs March 24 and won an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at six furlongs April 20, her final start for trainer Bob Hess Jr.

“She’s coming off a big race,” Baffert said. “I hope I don’t slow her down. She came to us in good shape.”