Steal Sunshine Shines Bright in Ellis Park Derby
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Photo: Coady Photography
Steal Sunshine wins the Ellis Park Derby at Ellis Park
A son of Constitution , Steal Sunshine made himself a shining standout in the Aug. 14 $200,000 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby, making his presence known under a steady hand from jockey Leonel Reyes. The colt rallied from last to earn a 3 1/4-length victory in the mile test on the dirt. Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Warm Sunshine, the Bobby Dibona trained 3-year-old runs for the partnership of Carrie Brogden and Little Red Feather Racing. The late move is becoming a trademark for the colt who crossed the wire in 1:38.19, pushing his record in nine starts to 4-1-1 with earnings of $233,910.
“I’m not surprised at all. I wouldn’t be here if I was surprised,” Dibona said after his colt notched his third straight win Aug. 14. “He’s just a great horse. From day one, I thought he was a special horse, and he’s developing and learning the game and relaxing. He’s getting better and better.”
Video: Runhappy Ellis Park Derby (BT)
Li'l Tootsie Wins Back-To-Back Stakes in Groupie Doll
The 4-year-old filly Li'l Tootsie , a daughter of Tapiture , scored her second straight stakes victory after advancing off the pace for a 1 1/2-length triumph in the $125,000 Groupie Doll Stakes Aug. 14. Trained by Tom Amoss and owned by Dr. Joel Politi, Li'l Tootsie ran a mile in 1:37.42 after rallying three-wide to win by two lengths. Davant Latham bred the filly in Kentucky out of the Dayjur mare Informative Style, and she sold at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale to Politi for $105,000 from Select Sales, agent for Michelle Redding.
Video: Groupie Doll S. (BT)
Justa Warrior Justifies Her Talent in Runhappy Ellis Park Debutante
A daughter of Justify , Justa Warrior struck the lead and kicked on in the final sixteenth to win the $125,000 Runhappy Ellis Park Debutante Stakes. The John Ortiz trainee had Reylu Gutierrez in the irons as she claimed her first stakes win. The filly saw off a late surge from Pachuca to finish the seven furlongs in 1:25.89. Stone Bridge Farm campaigns the filly who was sourced from the 2021 Keeneland September Sale for $150,000 from the Eaton Sales banner. Bred by Triemore Stud in Kentucky, she is out of the grade 1 winning Bernardini mare A Z Warrior ; she increased her earnings to $108,660.
Video: Runhappy Ellis Park Debutante S. (BT)
Top Recruit Takes Top Honors in Runhappy Ellis Park Juvenile
Top Recruit dug deep to win the $125,000 Runhappy Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes by a head over favorite Curly Jack . The colt by Midshipman stopped the clock in 1:24.40 under Gerardo Corrales for seven furlongs on the dirt. He is trained and co-owned by Mike Maker along with Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, and Three Diamonds Farm. Dunwoody Farm bred the gray colt out of Oh So Bella in Kentucky. Maker purchased the colt for $170,000 from this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training from Wavertree Stables. The colt has a record of 2-0-1 in three starts with earnings of $155,840.
Video: Runhappy Ellis Park Juvenile S. (BT)
Three in a Row for Runhappy Audubon Oaks Winner Last Leaf
In Last Leaf 's first effort outside of Gulfstream Park, the daughter of Not This Time continued her winning ways. The 3-year-old took command in the final furlong to capture the $100,000 Runhappy Audubon Oaks for her third straight stakes victory. Trained by Ronald Spatz for Monarch Stables, the filly sat patiently where rider Rafael Bejarano placed her until asked to fire from the outside. She covered the seven furlongs in 1:24.69 in a 1 3/4-length victory over Take a Stand . Bred in Kentucky by Khalid Mishref Alkahtani, Kaizen Sales consigned the filly to the 2020 Ocala Breeders' Sales October Yearlings, 2-Year-Olds, and Horses of Racing Age Sale, where she sold for $23,5000 to Frank Bertolino. She has earnings of $332,647 and a record of 7-1-2 in 15 starts.