Sunset Glow eyes return to form in San Clemente

DEL MAR, Calif. – Sunset Glow has raced in Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, and at Royal Ascot, but it’s in California where she has had the most success, and trainer Wesley Ward is hoping that a return to Del Mar will help her improve on recent form that hasn’t met his expectations, “considering what she accomplished last year,” he said.

Sunset Glow won the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes and Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante last summer, both on Polytrack. On Sunday, she makes her first start on Del Mar’s turf in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Clemente Handicap, a one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. Sunset Glow was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last fall at Santa Anita against Lady Eli, so a return to that form obviously would make her the one to beat.

But Sunset Glow has lost both of her starts this year. Lady Eli beat her in the Appalachian at Keeneland, but a second-place finish when favored in the Wait a While Stakes last time out at Belmont left Ward without an excuse.

“Plain and simple, she’s not as good as Lady Eli,” Ward said Friday. “But her last start, I thought she’d win. She’s doing great. If she can regain her 2-year-old form, she’ll be tough to beat. Sunday will tell the tale as to where we’re at.”

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The San Clemente drew a field of nine, including Prize Exhibit, who won the Grade 3 Senorita at Santa Anita on June 27, and Her Emmynency, second to Sunset Glow in the Del Mar Debutante last summer and an accomplished grass runner in her own right.

The San Clemente goes as race 8 on a 10-race card that begins at 2:05 p.m. Pacific.

Key contenders

Sunset Glow (Last 3 Beyers: 83-88-90)

Ward said Sunset Glow had a strong workout in company with champion Judy the Beauty on Monday at Churchill Downs. She was timed in 59.60 seconds. He said both needed a good, brisk work.

Sunset Glow “always has been kind of a heavy filly,” Ward said. “She doesn’t like to push herself away from the table.”

Prize Exhibit (Last 3 Beyers: 96-79-81)

She turned in by far the best performance of her career last time out in the Senorita, her second start since blinkers were added by trainer Jim Cassidy.

She frequently breaks poorly, but it looks like there’s enough legitimate speed in this race to ensure the kind of pace she needs to be effective.

Her Emmynency (Last 3 Beyers: 84-84-82)

She returned from an 8 1/2-month layoff to win an allowance race against older runners June 20 at Arlington, and she should move forward off that performance. The long layoff was required to recuperate from colitis.

After finishing second to Sunset Glow in the Del Mar Debutante last summer, she won the Surfer Girl at Santa Anita in her lone start on turf. That was to be her prep for the Breeders’ Cup, but she then took ill.

Paulina’s Love (Last 3 Beyers: 82-81-62)

Whether it was the switch to trainer Richard Baltas or the addition of blinkers – or both – she has run the two best races of her life in her last two starts, defeating maidens and a first-level allowance field. This is the strongest field she’s faced, but she’s certainly earned the chance based on her recent form.