Lea Farms' grade 3 winner Lightening Larry jumped out to an early lead and repelled a challenge from defending champion Gatsby at the top of the stretch to post a frontrunning 2 1/2-length triumph Jan. 14 in the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint at Gulfstream Park.
The six-furlong Sunshine Sprint for 4-year-olds and up was the second of two Florida-bred stakes that served as co-headliners on the Saturday card following Sweet Dani Girl's victory in the $75,000 Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf.
Ridden by Jose Morelos for trainer Jorge Delgado, 4-year-old Lightening Larry ($7) covered six furlongs in 1:12.61 over a fast main track as the 5-2 favorite. It was his third stakes score and first return to the winner's circle since a 12-1 upset of the 2022 Chick Lang Stakes (G3) in May at Pimlico Race Course.
Lightening Larry broke sharply from his rail post and was hustled to the lead by Morelos, going the opening quarter-mile in :22.46 with Gatsby, Unsociable, and Boca Boy battling for position behind. Lightening Larry was still going strong after a half in :46.85, when Gatsby was dropped down to the rail by jockey Luis Saez to launch their bid.
Lightening Larry had plenty left to turn back Gatsby, then opened up as 2021 Dr. Fager Stakes winner Cajun's Magic closed stoutly down the center of the track to get second. Gatsby held on for third to complete the trifecta.
Bred by Michelle Redding out of the winning Malibu Moon mare Moon And Sun, Lightening Larry graduated through maiden and allowance conditions before running second in the Ocala Stud Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream and in the Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs to cap his juvenile campaign. He won the Limehouse Stakes in January 2022 at Gulfstream before going on to score his biggest victory in the Chick Lang four months later. He went winless in three subsequent starts, finishing third against older horses in a six-furlong optional claiming sprint Nov. 26 at Gulfstream in his prior start.
"To me, he's always been the same. I never lost any hope with him," Delgado said. "He's a great horse. Sometimes, they get bad trips. Sometimes, everything goes their way. He is a great horse and he showed it today."
Delgado said the ultimate goal is to try graded company again, but he expects to give Lightening Larry another confidence booster before then.
"I'll plan another handicap or another (Florida-bred) stakes and then, I'll go back with the big dogs with him," he said.
Lightening Larry improved his record to 5-4-1 from 13 starts, with earnings of $363,360. A $50,000 purchase by Lea Farms from Pick View's consignment to the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, he is the fifth foal out of his dam, who has produced three winners from five starters and is her first graded stakes winner. Her most recent foal, a 2022 Gunnevera colt, died last year. She also has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Enticed .
Video: Sunshine Sprint S. (BT)
Sweet Dani Girl Fires Fresh Off Bench
In the Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf, jockey Joel Rosario celebrated his 38th birthday with a gate-to-wire victory aboard J and J Stable and Nicholas Vaccarezza's homebred Sweet Dani Girl ($8), making her first start in eight months.
Saddled for trainer Carlo Vaccarezza by assistant Reynaldo Abreu, Sweet Dani Girl was pressed by Crystal Coast through a quarter-mile in :24.92 and a half in :48.84 with Sonar third and last year's Filly and Mare Turf runner-up Sugar Fix in the clear in fourth.
Sugar Fix and jockey Tyler Gaffalione ranged up to challenge for the lead exiting the far turn and set their sights on Sweet Dani Girl, but the 4-year-old daughter of Jess's Dream responded by finding another gear and gaining separation through the stretch.
Mona Stella, the 9-5 favorite, closed to edge Sugar Fix for second with Sonar completing the trifecta in third.
"I had a very good trip," Rosario said. "She broke sharp and Reynaldo told me to just let her get into her stride and go from there. It looked like we were going to be on the lead but the outside horse (Crystal Coast) had some speed. My filly was there and she was able to keep coming at the end. She was digging in there at the end and getting better."
The second foal out of the unraced Scat Daddy mare My Sweet Dani Girl, Sweet Dani Girl improved her record to three wins and a third from six starts, with earnings of $209,565. She is the lone winner from three starters out of her dam, whose most recent produce includes an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Adios Charlie and a Dak Attack yearling colt. She was bred to Code of Honor for 2023.
