Rebounding Sunset Glory possible for Rodeo Drive Stakes in fall

DEL MAR, Calif. - The rapid development of Sunset Glory from maiden winner in April to minor stakes winner at Del Mar last Friday will lead to an appearance in a graded stakes this fall.

The Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 5 is considered a realistic goal for Sunset Glory, who won her stakes debut in the CTT-TOC Stakes at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Friday for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bruce Treitman and trainer Michael McCarthy.

“I’m happy to have a filly to think about the Rodeo Drive with,” McCarthy said over the weekend.

A year ago, the hope was to get Sunset Glory back to racing in any capacity. She was sidelined from October 2022 until late April of this year when she won a maiden race at Santa Anita. On July 21, Sunset Glory won an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles by 3 1/4 lengths at Del Mar that led to the CTT-TOC Stakes.

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McCarthy said Sunset Glory had “a bunch of little maladies,” that forced the 18-month gap between starts. A 4-year-old Irish-bred filly, Sunset Glory has won 3 of 5 starts.

“She’s certainly run to her training since she came back off the extended layoff,” McCarthy said. “She’s very genuine.”

On Friday, Sunset Glory was timed in 2:14.33 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 89. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Sunset Glory stalked pacesetter, and 3-5 favorite, Linda’s Gift to early stretch before taking the lead.

“It was nice to see that other filly take the lead,” McCarthy said of Linda’s Gift. “I didn’t know what would happen if we would have ended up in front of her. Umberto did a wonderful job of rating her within striking distance.”

The coming months will determine how far Sunset Glory can ascend in the filly and mare turf division.

“It’s got me wondering,” McCarthy said.

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