Tune of the Spirit wires in Sussex

Tune of the Spirit notched his sixth win in 14 starts over the Delaware turf course, leading from start to finish in the $100,000 Sussex Stakes, beating the late-running Dreadnaught by a head.

With his post 3 draw made the inside slot after scratches, Tune of the Spirit broke sharply and quickly made the lead under jockey Roberto Alvarado Jr. Pressed by the 8-5 favorite, Giant Wrecker, through fractions of 25.16 seconds, 49.62, and 1:12.62 through three-quarters of a mile, Tune of the Spirit began to increase his lead on the far turn, going ahead by 2 1/2 lengths at the top of the stretch. As Giant Wrecker continued to run evenly, Dreadnaught, who had sat close to the early pace under Jean-Luc Samyn, made his rally from fourth place, took aim on the leader, and just fell short. Giant Wrecker finished another three-quarters of a length back, having held third over Gray Suitor by a half-length.

Tune of the Spirit, a 6-year-old gelding by Concorde's Tune, finished the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:42.35, paying $33. He is trained by Stacey Parker for Patricia Generazio.