Sushine City wins her second race in a week in the Miss Gracie
Coming back in just seven days, Sunshine City broke sharply from her inside post and took them all the way in the $75,000 Miss Gracie Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
She paid $4.40 for her relatively easy victory over Tik Tok Famous. The about 7 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies was contested over turf rated firm.
With Leonel Reyes aboard, Sunshine City opened up a clear lead while posting interior fractions of 23.60 and 47.29 seconds. She held a 2 1/2-length advantage over Tik Tok Famous at the eighth pole, and was never threatened while widening her margin to 3 1/4 lengths at the wire.
Tik Tok Famous moved into second between the first and second calls, chased the winner the rest of the way, and just lasted to edge Champagne Ivy by a head for the runner-up spot. Champagne Ivy rallied late to finish a clear third.
The final time was 1:28.16.
It was the first stakes win for the Kentucky-bred daughter of Creative Cause who races for Phillip DiCosmo. Trained by Bobby Dibona, Sunshine City won a $35,000 claiming race going 1 1/16 miles on turf Aug. 28.