Sunset Glory gets back to best distance in CTT and TOC Stakes
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For her third start of 2025, Sunset Glory is back to her best distance of 1 3/8 miles on turf in Friday’s $100,000 CTT and TOC Stakes at Del Mar.
The winner of the 2024 CTT and TOC Stakes, Sunset Glory had mixed results at a mile on turf earlier this year. She won an allowance race at the distance in her first start of the year at Santa Anita on June 6, but was only eighth of 11 after a wide trip in the restricted Osunitas Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 20.
“The mile, in her last start against better company, was not really her thing,” trainer Michael McCarthy said on Thursday. “I’m throwing it out.”
“Obviously, going a mile and three-eighths, [as] defending champion, we’re looking for a repeat performance.”
On Friday, Sunset Glory is part of a field of 11 led by Mrs. Astor, a four-time stakes winner in the last year for Augustin Stable and trainer Jonathan Thomas.
Sunset Glory is co-owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bruce Treitman. The Eclipse partnership has a stellar record in recent runnings of the CTT and TOC Stakes. Aside from the 2024 win by Sunset Glory, Eclipse owned Sister O’Toole, who won the race in 2022 and 2023.
The 2024 CTT and TOC Stakes is Sunset Glory’s only stakes win. Last fall, she finished fifth in the Grade 2 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita and 11th of 12 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar in her final start of the year.
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