Exchange Rate’s stellar 2-year-old filly Sunset Glow raised her career to another level Saturday with a gutsy victory in the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante (G1). She is the fifth lifetime Grade 1 winner for her sire, and one of eight stakes winners for him in 2014.
Sunset Glow, who won the Aug. 6 Sorrento S. (G2) in front-running style, took back off the pace in the seven furlong Debutante. Victor Espinoza asked her to go around the quarter pole, coming between horses and proved to be the best of the closers, winning by a neck in 1:23.12 (VIDEO).
“I wanted to do something new with her today,” Espinoza said. “I knew it was a big risk, but we already knew she could win on the lead so we took her back. I tried something new and it worked.”
Sunset Glow won for the third time in five starts with two seconds and extended her earnings to $377,645. The well-travelled filly broke her maiden at Belmont Park in June, then shipped to England to run second in the Grade 3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot.
Sunset Glow was a $60,000 weanling purchase at the 2012 Keeneland November breeding stock sale by Stonereath Stud, agent, from consignor Three Chimney Sales. She is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Dynaformer mare Perfectforthepart.
