Wilburn, Suzzona shine in Parx undercard

Wilburn, Suzzona shine in Parx undercard

The well-regarded Wilburn is improving with maturity (Bill Denver/Equi-Photo) Stonestreet Stables LLC’s WILBURN (Bernardini) grabbed his first career stakes victory by 1 3/4 lengths in Monday’s $300,000 Smarty Jones S. at Parx Racing. The Steven Asmussen trainee took the lead at the quarter-pole and never looked back under encouragement from jockey Corey Nakatani. The 7-2 third choice returned $9, $5 and $4.20. Joe Vann (Silver Deputy) jumped out to the early lead in splits of :23 3/5 and :47 2/5. Wilburn took over at the quarter pole in 1:11 3/5 and crossed the wire in the 1 mile and 70-yard contest in a final time of 1:40 4/5 over fast dirt. Redeemed (Include) finished second with 40-1 longshot I’m Steppin’ It Up (Congrats) finishing third. Turbo Compressor (Halo’s Image), Scotus (Successful Appeal), J J’s Lucky Train (Silver Train), Concealed Identity (Smarty Jones) and Joe Vann rounded out the order of finish. Pants on Fire (Jump Start) and Rush Now (Tiznow) were scratched.

Wilburn now has back-to-back wins, taking an optional claimer at Monmouth in
his last outing on August 7. The three-year-old colt has never finished worse
than fifth, having broken his maiden in his career debut March 11 at Santa Anita
and also won another optional claimer in May at Churchill Downs. He also
recorded a fourth-place finish in the Matt Winn S. (G3) on June 18 at Churchill.
With earnings of $286,106, Wilburn has a record now of 7-4-0-0 lifetime.

Wilburn is out of the Grade 3-winning mare Moonlight Sonata (Carson City),
who is the dam of Beethoven (Sky Mesa), winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club S.
(G2) at Churchill Downs. Wilburn’s full sister is two-year-old filly Venetian
Sonata, who broke her maiden at first asking at Pimlico and since ran fourth in
the Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies S. Moonlight Sonata’s other recent progeny are
a 2010 Sky Mesa colt, and A. P. Sonata, a 2011 filly by A.P. Indy.

Moonlight Sonata is out of the stakes-winning mare Wheatley Way (Wheatley
Hall), and is a half-sister to Bevo (Prospector’s Gamble) who won the Futurity
S. (G1). Further back, one could also find Grade 1 winner Twixt (Restless
Native) as well as stakes winners Family Way (Cyane) and Olde Elegance (Diamond
Prospect). Wilburn was purchased for $625,000 at last year’s Keeneland April
two-year-olds in training sale.

A return to Parx would be the next logical start for Wilburn, in the $1
million Pennsylvania Derby (G2) on September 24.

Earlier on the Parx card Monday, Sandy Valley Farm’s SUZZONA (The Name’s
Jimmy) rallied to win the $200,000
Turf Amazon H. by 1 3/4 lengths. Guided by
jockey Julian Pimentel, the Ben Feliciano Jr. trainee completed the five-furlong
contest in :57 3/5 over firm turf. Suzzona has already scored in two stakes
races this year, the Candy Eclair S. August 13 at Monmouth, and The Very One S.
in May at Pimlico. The chestnut mare now has earnings of $606,885 with a
44-21-6-5 record. She is also a perfect four-for-four lifetime at Parx.