Sparky Ville brings newfound focus into Sunny Slope

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sparky Ville will have a career reboot in Sunday’s $70,000 Sunny Slope Stakes for 2-year-olds at Santa Anita, his first start as a gelding.

The post parade for the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 3 clinched the decision for trainer Jeff Bonde.

“He was a jerk going to the gate in his last start,” Bonde said. “He was wasting himself.”

Sparky Ville finished last of six in the Del Mar Futurity, 16 1/4 lengths behind Game Winner, who returned to win the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Sept. 29. Game Winner is likely to be favored in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs.

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Owned by David and John Del Secco, Sparky Ville is part of a field of six in the Sunny Slope Stakes, which is run at seven furlongs and restricted to juveniles who have not won a graded stakes.

Sparky Ville is the only runner in the field to have started in such a race. Seven Scents, who drew the rail, was second in the Barretts Juvenile on Sept. 22 at Los Alamitos, a race restricted to horses who went through the ring at an auction conducted by Barretts.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sparky Ville, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 61-70-68

◗ Sparky Ville, who will be ridden by Gary Stevens, won a maiden special weight race in his second start in June and was second, beaten 10 1/4 lengths by Instagrand, in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs Aug. 11 at Del Mar.

◗ In the Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs, Sparky Ville was fifth early and faded in the final furlong. Since being gelded in late September, Sparky Ville has worked twice, including five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Oct. 11.

“Gary likes his works better,” Bonde said. “He seems more focused now.”

Seven Scents, by Goldencents
Last 3 Beyers: 82-83-52

◗ Seven Scents had an outstanding September at Los Alamitos, winning a maiden special weight race at a mile on Sept. 6 and finishing second in the Barretts Juvenile in his stakes debut. Earlier this week, trainer Craig Lewis questioned whether Seven Scents is best suited to the seven-furlong distance of the Sunny Slope.

“I thought he ran very good in the mile race at Los Al,” Lewis said. “I’ve always thought he was a pretty nice horse. He might be better around two turns.”

◗ Seven Scents drew the rail in the Sunny Slope. In his last two starts, the colt has been effective as a stalker for jockey Geovanni Franco, who retains the mount.

Savagery, by Bellamy Road
Last 3 Beyers: 75-49-32

◗ After finishing fifth and sixth in maiden special weight races in June and July, Savagery was brilliant in a $62,500 claimer for maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 15 at Del Mar, drawing off to win by 11 lengths. He has not raced since.

◗ Savagery was entered in the Del Mar Futurity but was withdrawn by trainer Peter Miller.