Amalfi Sunrise (Constitution) flattered her 'TDN Rising Star' status even further by collecting another facile win in Saturday's GII Sorrento S. at Del Mar. Sent off the well-supported favorite following an ultra-impressive 6 1/4-length score in her Santa Anita debut June 23, the dark bay was part of a three-way tussle up front with 'TDN Rising Star' and last-out GIII Schuylerville S. winner Comical (Into Mischief) and Princess Mo (Uncle Mo), carving out an opening quarter in :22.50. Looking ready to dispense of those rivals at any moment, Amalfi Sunrise took over at the five-sixteenths after a half in :45.91, rounded the final turn clear of the rest and rolled home in splendid isolation, triumphing by six lengths over Powerfulattraction (Commissioner), who closed from the back to be second. Following the winner under the wire, Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) was third with Shanghai Keely (Shanghai Bobby) further back in fourth. The sires of the first four home were all conditioned by Todd Pletcher during their racing days. WinStar freshman sires accounted for the trifecta.
“It really was impressive the way she drew away at the end,” affirmed winning trainer Simon Callaghan, who also trains third-place finisher Shedaresthedevil. “She's a naturally fast filly and that's the way she likes to run, up near the pace. She took a lot of heat and still was able to pull away which was very professional.”
Added Norberto Arroyo Jr., “Oh, I had a ton of horse. She's a very nice filly. Maybe the best filly I've ever been on to this point, and I've been on some nice fillies. She's something special.”
Pedigree Notes:
Amalfi Sunrise becomes the second black-type winner for her freshman sire Constitution (by Tapit). The GI Florida Derby and GI Donn H. winner was also responsible for Our Country, winner of the first race at Saratoga Saturday. Fellow WinStar Farm/ Pletcher freshman stallion Commissioner–the sire of Sorrento runner-up Powerfulattraction–also had a debut winner on Saratoga's Saturday card, taking the third race of the afternoon with Pletcher-trained Glory Road. The third foal out of Soot Z following Group 3-placed Gotti (More Than Ready) and SP Senatus (Sky Mesa), Amalfi Sunrise has a yearling half-brother by Violence and a half-sister by Tiznow foaled earlier this season. Soot Z was bred back to Into Mischief.
Saturday, Del Mar
SORRENTO S.-GII, $200,351, Del Mar, 8-3, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.96, ft.
1–AMALFI SUNRISE, 120, f, 2, by Constitution&hid=5588">Constitution
1st Dam: Soot Z, by Empire Maker
2nd Dam: Bella Chiarra, by Phone Trick
3rd Dam: Bannockburn, by Count Brook
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($40,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $185,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR). O-Doug Branham & Marsha Naify; B-Jack Mandato (KY); T-Simon Callaghan; J-Norberto Arroyo, Jr. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $159,000. *1/2 to Gotti (More Than Ready), GSP-UAE. *2nd black-type winner and graded winner for first-crop sire (by Tapit). Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Powerfulattraction, 118, f, 2, Commissioner–Magnet, by Seeking the Gold. ($32,000 Ylg '18 KEEJAN; $102,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $225,000 2yo '19 OBSMAR). O-Exline-Border Racing LLC, Robin Christensen, Steve Dorfman, Dan Hudock & Susanna Wilson; B-McDowell Farm (AR); T-Peter Eurton. $40,000.
3–Shedaresthedevil, 123, f, 2, Daredevil–Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats. ($100,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $20,000 RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Glencrest Farm, LLC & Qatar Racing Limited; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Simon Callaghan. $24,000.
Margins: 6, NO, 3 1/4. Odds: 0.70, 19.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Shanghai Keely, Princess Mo, Comical.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
