Sparky Ville rallies to Sunny Slope Stakes victory

ARCADIA, Calif. - Racing as a gelding for the first time, Sparky Ville closed from last in a field of four to win his first stakes in Sunday’s $70,560 Sunny Slope Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Gary Stevens, Sparky Ville ($6.20) rallied three wide through the stretch to finish 1 1/4 lengths in front of 9-5 Savagery, who was 2 1/4 lengths clear of even-money favorite Seven Scents. Shark, a 25-1 outsider who previously raced in Texas, trailed through the final quarter-mile and finished a distant last.

Seven Scents, second in the Barretts Juvenile at Los Alamitos last month, set a solid pace of 22 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.80 for a half-mile, leading narrowly over Savagery. Sparky Ville was always within two lengths over the front on the backstretch and turn.

Sparky Ville was timed in 1:16.56 for the 6 1/2 furlongs and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 83.

“Ever since they gelded him, it has made a big difference,” Stevens said. “He rated well for me.”

The Sunny Slope Stakes was restricted to non-winners of a graded stakes. The race drew six entrants, but Principe Carlo and Rickey B were scratched early Sunday.

Sparky Ville has won 2 of 5 starts and earned $125,425. After winning a maiden special weight race in his second start, here in June, Sparky Ville was second by 10 1/2 lengths to Instagrand in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 11 and last of six in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 3.

He was gelded in the weeks after the Del Mar Futurity.

“We had high hopes,” trainer Jeff Bonde said. “He got kind of roguey going to the gate for the futurity. Since we gelded him, he’s gotten more professional.”

Sparky Ville, by Candy Ride, races for David and John Del Decco. Bonde said the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 17 is a likely goal.