Madelyn’s Sunshine outruns rivals in Easter Sprint Cup
FOLLOWING Madelyn’s Sunshine’s impressive win in the $1.14-million Easter Sprint Cup on Monday, trainer Jason DaCosta says once his four-year-old, American-bred runner stays healthy and sound she is arguably one of the top sprinters at Caymanas Park.
Bred by Joe’s Son Joey – Madelyn’s Finest, Madelyn’s Sunshine, ridden by Reyan Lewis, made all the running to win the Non-Restricted Overnight Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward over five and a half furlongs (1,100m) by 3¾ lengths, easily. Madelyn’s Sunshine posted a very quick 1:05.3 (23.2 x 46.2) for the distance.
“I always had high expectations for her but she is not the soundest of horses. Madelyn’s Sunshine had to be trained gingerly to keep her sound, but once she is sound she is probably one of the top sprinters in the island,” DaCosta told The Supreme Racing Guide.
After a couple of strides taken, Madelyn’s Sunshine shot to the front of the field and held the lead ahead of Magical Mood (Ramon Nepare), Freedom Street (Javaniel Patterson), and stablemate Eagle One (Robert Halleden) going into the half-mile (800m) turn.
Madelyn’s Sunshine continued to show a clear pair of heels approaching from the distance and turned for home, looking strong on the front end. With vigorous change of hold actions and only two cracks of the whip from Lewis, Madelyn’s Sunshine accelerated and powered home to score easily at the wire — her first win from four starts this season and a fifth overall from 11 starts.
Finishing in second place was Brinks, under champion jockey Dane Dawkins; and finishing in third place was Freedom Street.
It was the second winner on the 10-race card for DaCosta while Lewis was riding his third winner on the card.
DaCosta and Lewis earlier teamed up with three-year-old chestnut filly Gahy Gahly Links to win the ninth race, Division 11 of a Maiden Condition race for native-bred three-year-old fillies over seven furlongs (1,400m). Gahy Gahly Links got home by a length and a quarter ahead of stablemate Brown Skin Girl, ridden by Robert Halledeen. The final time for the race was 1:28.3.
Lewis’s other winner was Adenosine in the fifth race for trainer Enos Brown. It was Brown’s first win of the season.
Racing continues on Saturday.
