Sun Path Headed to Stakes After Blowout Allowance Score

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Sun Path Headed to Stakes After Blowout Allowance Score
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Photo: Hodges Photography
Sun Path wins a Dec. 18 allowance event at Fair Grounds Race Course

Juddmonte Farms' homebred 2-year-old filly Sun Path ran to her fine pedigree in improving to 2-for-3 Dec. 18 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The daughter of Munnings  pressed the early pace, took command on the turn, and drew off to take a first-level allowance handily, completing a mile and seventy yards on the fast main track in 1:42.95. The margin of victory was 12 3/4 lengths for the Brad Cox-trained Sun Path, the 1-5 favorite under Florent Geroux. 

"It was a short field, but I thought she ran well," Cox said. "It was her first time around two turns and she continued the education process. It went really well. She's a good filly."

Out of the Tapit  mare Touch the Star, Sun Path is a full sister to 2020 Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner and Alabama Stakes (G1) runner-up Bonny South, another Cox trainee. 

"At this stage of the game, she's better," Cox said of Sun Path. "She showed more this summer than 'Bonny' showed as a 2-year-old. She's got a long way to go to catch up to 'Bonny's' accomplishments, but at this stage of the game, there's more talent and speed there and she does things maybe a touch easier."

According to Cox, the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds is "in play," though he will likely give her more time between starts. 

"We will also look at the Martha Washington (Stakes Jan. 30 at Oaklawn Park) or we might just wait for the Rachel Alexandra (Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton, G2) Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds," he added. "We will just see how well she bounces out of this race, how it shapes up, how it plays out, and let her tell us."

Sun Path has two wins and a second from three starts and earnings of $91,892. She rallied from fifth to break her maiden by three lengths second time out Nov. 8 at Churchill Downs.

Cox and Geroux also teamed to win with Godolphin's homebred Divine Comedy one race before Sun Path's victory. The juvenile Into Mischief  filly put herself on the map with an impressive maiden score, wiring a field of eight foes by 5 1/4 widening lengths while taken in hand near the wire. She finished a mile and 70 yards in 1:44.37.

"She appreciated the two turns," Cox said. "First time out (sixth at Churchill Downs in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint Sept. 17) she ran well but we knew she needed more ground. She had a little minor setback, nothing we had to send her out for, and it took a little time for her to get over that. She had a fantastic breeze here last week, we expected her to run big and she responded well."

Cox also reported that Juddmonte homebred Mandaloun, a 2-year-old Into Mischief colt who is 2-for-2 with Keeneland maiden and Churchill Downs allowance optional claiming scores, is being pointed for the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds.