Star Harbour basks in Sunshine State

Star Harbour just held off the late charge of Jackson Bend (yellow hat) to take the Sunshine State (Adam Coglianese Photography)

Star Harbour emerged from more than a two-month layoff to capture his
first stakes on Sunday in the $100,000

Sunshine State Stakes for state-breds at Gulfstream Park in his initial
start for trainer Bobby Dibona.

“It’s very exciting to claim a horse and to be able to run at
this kind of level,” Dibona said. You can pay a million dollars and not get a
horse like this. He’s flourished here. Sometimes, he had a quiet, lackluster
attitude, but when he got here, he picked his head up and showed it in his
workout.

The five-year-old horse battled in the early going with Cat Five
Hurricane, who poked a head in front after the first two furlongs to post an
opening quarter in :22 1/5. Star Harbour took back over control of the race to
run a half-mile in :44 3/5, as Cat Five Hurricane was eased up midturn.

“My horse felt good,” jockey Paco Lopez said. “The first quarter
went in :22 and the second was a little fast I know, but my horse was
going easy. I was looking for (Bahamian Squall) but when I turned for home there
wasn’t anybody there. They were coming a little bit late, but it’s
OK.”

Bahamian Squall, the 2012 winner of this stakes, stalked the
pace and was all out around the far turn but could not cut into Star Harbour’s
lead. The son of Indian Charlie widened his advantage to two lengths in the
stretch, but that lead quickly diminished as Jackson Bend was mounting a late
charge on the outside. Star Harbour was shown the whip late
and held on by a half-length in the end.

The 8-5 favorite covered seven furlongs in 1:21 2/5 over the
fast main track and paid his bettors $5.20 for the win.

Jackson Bend took second and it was another 1 1/4 lengths back
to Bahamian Squall in third. Close It Out and Fort Loudon finished fourth and
fifth, respectively. Cat Five Hurricane was eased and had to be vanned off.