Sunset Glow shines in Sorrento Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Sunset Glow’s world tour of racetracks continued Wednesday with her first stakes win in the $200,000 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar.

There will be an encore.

Trainer Wesley Ward said immediately after the race that Sunset Glow is a candidate for the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante over seven furlongs here Aug. 30.

Sunset Glow ($8.60) led throughout the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes, finishing 3 1/4 lengths in front of La Grange, the winner of the Cinderella Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 13. Heart of Paradise, second in the Cinderella, finished third behind Sunset Glow, beaten 8 1/2 lengths. Sharla Rae was fourth, with Caval, the even-money favorite, fading from third on the backstretch to finish last by 37 lengths.

Sunset Glow was ridden by Victor Espinoza and set early fractions of 22.30 and 45.30 seconds without facing significant pressure. La Grange closed on the inside on the turn to be a clear second in the stretch. Sunset Glow was timed in 1:16.61.

Espinoza was aboard Sunset Glow for a maiden race win on turf against males at Belmont Park on June 6 and a runner-up finish in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20. Sunset Glow was second in her debut at Presque Isle Downs on May 13.

Ward trains Sunset Glow for Ten Broeck Farm. The filly by Exchange Rate has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $197,645. She was purchased for $140,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Ward said he typically gives his 2-year-olds ample time between races but thinks Sunset Glow will be better served by the relatively quick turnaround to the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at the end of the month.

“In between races, she gets a belly on her like an old pony,” Ward said. “The plan was to go in this race because it’s close to the Del Mar Debutante.”