Wednesday, August 06, 2014

Sunset Glow kicked clear of her foes in the Del Mar stretch en route to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $200,000 Sorrento S. (G2) for 2-year-old fillies on Wednesday, giving her sire Exchange Rate his 52nd lifetime stakes winner.

Sunset Glow set all the fractions in the 6 1/2-furlong Sorrento, shaking clear of the hot pursuit of Heart of Paradise after a quarter mile and lengthening her lead around the turn and through the stretch. The final time on the Polytrack was 1:16.61 (VIDEO).

Sunset Glow has two wins and two seconds in four outings with earnings of $197,645 for owner Ten Broeck Farm Inc. The well-traveled filly has made starts at Presque Isle Downs, Belmont Park and most recently at Ascot in Great Britain, when she was second in the Group 3 Albany S. on June 20.

“She’s so tough, the (travel to England), nothing bothers her,” said winning rider Victor Espinoza. “The last work was unbelievable, so I knew she was ready today.”

Bred in Kentucky by Gayla Rankin and GLR Ranch out of the stakes-placed Dynaformer mare Perfectforthepart, Sunset Glow was a $60,000 weanling purchase at the 2012 Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale from consignor Three Chimney Sales. Eaton Sales then consigned the filly to the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling sale, when Ben McElroy, agent, made a winning bid of $140,000.

Sunset Glow is the first starter and first winner for her stakes-placed dam Perfectforthepart. She has a yearling full brother.