Sweetrayofsunshine in top form for optional claimer
ARCADIA, Calif. – Sweetrayofsunshine was claimed for $16,000 by trainer Bill Spawr in February 2013, a price that was lofty compared with the competition she faced in late 2012.
In four starts since being acquired, Sweetrayofsunshine has more than paid back co-owner Rusty Brown and Roddy Valente. The 5-year-old mare has won twice in that span and earned $70,200. That figure could exceed six figures if Sweetrayofsunshine wins an optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Friday.
Sweetrayofsunshine has won 7 of 12 starts and $127,510, with six of her wins coming in claiming races ranging in value from $8,000 to $20,000.
“She’s gone way beyond our expectations,” Spawr said. “She’s very consistent. She’s a trier.”
Sweetrayofsunshine ran the best race of her career in her most recent start May 18. She won an optional claimer for California-breds by 6 1/4 lengths, stalking the early pace and pulling clear in the final furlong. The win came in her second start following an 11-month layoff caused by injury.
“She had a problem with a knee, nothing serious but enough to keep her out for a while,” Spawr said. “She’s been good since she came back, obviously.”
Martin Garcia, who rode Sweetrayofsunshine for the first time May 18, retains the mount Friday. Sweetrayofsunshine is part of a field of five in the optional claimer for fillies and mares.
Buckingham Bull, Proud Vixen, and Melanistic were second through fourth in a similar race over a mile May 24. Proud Vixen, trained by Vladimir Cerin, is winless in six starts since beating maidens at Laurel last September. Melanistic, a 10-time winner in 35 starts, is winless in eight starts since an optional claimer here last October in which she was entered to be claimed for $40,000.
Two runners in Friday’s race are entered for $40,000 claiming prices – Buckingham Bull, a three-time winner, and Silver Hustler, fifth in an optional claimer on turf May 25.
Buckingham Bull, trained by Cerin, could set the pace but will be closely followed by Sweetrayofsunshine.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Buckingham Bull. Trainer Vladimir Cerin is 5 for 17 with a $4.51 ROI third off the layoff in dirt routes at Santa Anita over the past five years. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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◗ Friday’s eight-race program, which begins at 3 p.m. Pacific, includes a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds over a mile on turf, the first grass race for the division this year. Trainer Doug O’Neill starts Sky Preacher, who was second and fourth when well backed in sprints earlier at this meeting.
Friday’s card is part of the final week of the spring-summer meeting. Los Alamitos opens its Thoroughbred meeting July 3.