Viking shines bright in Bet on Sunshine Stakes
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David Fawkes’s heart sank when he discovered on the morning of Oct. 2 that Viking, a 5-year-old gelding he trains, was showing signs of colic. Viking was supposed to run that day in the Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland. The horse was thriving. Fawkes liked his chances. But he had to treat the colic, which turned out to be minor, and scratch the horse.
Viking bounced back, continued training with verve. On the morning of Nov. 7, the gelding was looking just fine, and late in the afternoon Viking went out and easily won the $300,000 Bet on Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Downs - five weeks late, but the result Fawkes had hoped he’d get at Keeneland.
Viking broke sharply and made an early lead under Tyler Gaffalione before Swift Speed came inside him to set the pace through the first quarter-mile of this six-furlong dirt dash. Gaffalione let his mount out a half-notch into the turn, Viking took the lead, and the horse never looked back. He shook loose from the remaining players after cornering for home, took a three-length lead to the stretch call, and crossed the line 3 3/4 lengths the best.
Viking clocked 1:09.55 off splits of 22.40, 45.36, and 57.11 over a track rated fast but producing slow fractions throughout the card. He paid $9.56 as the second choice.
Jack’s Promise stalked the pace and finished second at 17-1, one length ahead of third-place Tejano Twist, the late-running veteran who snagged third at 38-1 and was part of a four-horse blanket finish along with even-money favorite Obliteration, C K Wonder, and Dreaminblue.
Viking, a son of City of Light and Justwalkonby, by Giant’s Causeway, campaigns for Alex Lieblong and JoAnn Lieblong. Lightly raced, Viking showed some ability during 2024 and 2025 but turned into a different horse when he moved into Fawkes’ barn earlier this year. Based over the summer in Florida, Viking at Gulfstream Park won the Smile Sprint in his first start for Fawkes, and went from that six-furlong tally to land a one-turn-mile handicap.
“We made a few subtle changes. No big deal,” Fawkes said. “I think he’s pretty good. The future will tell us.”
At Keeneland on Oct. 2, Viking was stuck in his stall on race day. At Churchill on Nov. 7, nobody could come close to catching him in the Bet on Sunshine.
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