Da Stoops, Joint Effort star in Sunshine Millions sophomore stakes

Da Stoops, Joint Effort star in Sunshine Millions sophomore

stakes

Da Stoops recovered from a stumbling start to rout the field (Benoit Photo) The two sophomore stakes on Sunshine Millions Day offered a study in contrast. In the colts' race, the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash at Santa Anita, the only moment of drama was the break. Otherwise, it was all clear sailing for the 6-5 favorite DA STOOPS (Distorted Humor). In the fillies' race, the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Oaks at Gulfstream Park, it was anybody's race turning for home before JOINT EFFORT (Runaway Groom) uncorked a winning rally in the final furlong. At the break, Watson and Weitman Performances' Da Stoops stumbled coming out of the gate and was relegated near the back of the field on the rail. Shaking that mishap off as though it were nothing, he quickly rushed up under Victor Espinoza and took the race by the throat. In front by a head at the end of a :21 1/5 opening quarter, Da Stoops visibly widened his lead while on cruise control through a half in a wicked :43 2/5 and five-eighths in :55 2/5. One by one his pursuers had given way, and the Bob Baffert pupil sailed home by 7 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:08 4/5 for six furlongs on the fast track. His time was the second-fastest of the meet, just two ticks off Too Much Bling's (Rubiano) mark in the San Miguel S. "I wanted him to break as sharp as he could," Espinoza said, "but he kind of bobbled coming out of the gate, just a little bit, one or two jumps, he kind of lost his balance. After that it was no problem." "He really trained well into this race," Baffert said. "I was a little worried about (drawing) number one. He did stumble a bit out of the gate, but he's so athletic he recovered. About the five-eighths pole I knew we were in good shape."

Changing Weather (Storm Boot) closed from near the back of the pack to grab

second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Brite Maneuvers (High Brite). Dinner Magic

(Formal Dinner) faded to fourth after chasing the winner early, followed by In

Summation (Put It Back); Corazondelcampeon (Comic Strip), who was also cooked by

tracking the brutal pace; Rattlesnake Joe (Concerto) and Plagiarist (Souvenir

Copy), the 2-1 second choice who trailed for much of the race.

Da Stoops paid $4.60, $3.40 and $2.60 while spearheading a $27.50 exacta

($1).

Bred by Malibu Valley Farms in California, Da Stoops is the first foal from

the unraced Glamorous Lady (Kingdom of Spain). She has since produced an unnamed

dark bay juvenile colt by In Excess (Ire) and a yearling filly by Storm Creek.

This is the immediate family of Grade 2 winner Humorous Lady (Distorted Humor).

With this victory, Da Stoops has improved his scoreline to 8-3-3-1 and

$301,470 in the bank. He had previously captured the California Breeders'

Champion S. and finished second to the highly regarded Your Tent or Mine (Forest

Camp) in the Hollywood Prevue S. (G3).

Baffert praised his dark bay colt.

"This colt's got some serious gears," the trainer said. "He's really fast.

He's the quickest Cal-bred I've ever trained."

At Gulfstream, Donald R. Dizney's homebred Joint Effort was reserved off the

quick early tempo, fueled by a three-way duel on the front end. Devons Smokin

(Devon Lane) battled 3-1 favorite Bully Bones (Hesabull), with Peach Flambe

(Flying Chevron) in close attendance to their outside, through fractions of :21

3/5, :44 2/5 and :56 4/5.

The pacesetters were noticeably tiring entering the stretch, while Joint

Effort was just winding up for Mark Guidry. After traveling four wide on the far

turn, the Dale Romans filly ranged into contention at the top of the stretch and

stormed down the center of the track inside the final furlong to score

decisively by 2 1/2 lengths. Joint Effort completed six furlongs in 1:09 2/5 on

the fast track while notching her first stakes win.

"She broke great and that got her in good position early," Guidry said.

"Basically, she just turned it up a little when I got her in the clear, and that

was all she needed."

The 62-1 shot A Sea Trippi (Trippi), seventh in the upper stretch, rocketed

to take second by a length, and 91-1 Lake Alice (Mt. Livermore) stayed on well

for third after tracking the pace in the early stages. Peach Flambe wound up

fourth, followed by Bully Bones, Knights Templar (Exploit), Swap Fliparoo

(Exchange Rate), Running Lass (Running Stag), Devons Smokin, Bettarun Fast

(Kelly Kip), Fifth Avenue (Monarchos) and Lizzy's Township (Delaware Township).

Windy (Wild Rush) and Home Alona (Game Plan) scratched.

As the 4-1 third choice, Joint Effort returned $10.60, $6.40 and $4.20 while

keying a $276.70 exacta ($1).

She has advanced her record to 9-3-3-1 and more than doubled her earnings to

$236,740. Joint Effort had previously finished second in the Debutante S. (G3)

and third in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies S. In her most recent effort, she

turned in a sharp seven-furlong allowance victory at Churchill Downs in

November.

The Florida-bred chestnut is out of the Conquistador Cielo mare C.C.

Princess, who has also produced 2005 Jersey Derby third Hole in the Head (Wekiva

Springs). She has an unnamed chestnut juvenile colt by Anet and a yearling

sister to Joint Effort. This is the family of 1986 English One Thousand Guineas

S. (Eng-G1) and Oaks (Eng-G1) heroine, Midway Lady (Alleged), herself the dam of

2005 Oaks (Eng-G1) queen Eswarah (GB) (Unfuwain).

Route racing appears to be in Joint Effort's future.

"She had been training great and started to peak last fall," Romans said.

"We've always thought long distances with her, but we shortened her up at

Churchill with this race in mind. We'll start thinking long distances again, but

for now, we're just going to regroup before we get back to Kentucky."