Graded stakes winners Steal Sunshine and Tumbarumba rematch March 30 in the 1 1/16-mile $150,000 Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) after a nose separated the pair the last time they met at Gulfstream Park.
After tussling through quick fractions with Il Miracolo in the March 2 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), Tumabarumba was confronted by Steal Sunshine inside the final furlong. Steal Sunshine, with a fast pace setting up his closing kick, appeard to be about to blow by when Tumbarumba responded with a battle. The two bobbed heads to the wire until a photograph determined Steal Sunshine prevailed. Il Miracolo was 2 3/4 lengths back in third.
Video: Gulfstream Park Mile S. presented by Jack Christopher (G2)
The win was the first graded score for Steal Sunshine and upped his career earnings to $490,345 for owners Michael Iavarone, Jules Iavarone, and Carrie Brogden.
Tumbarumba exited his first graded victory Jan. 27 in Gulfstream’s Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) having shown his determination with a hard-fought nose victory. Steal Sunshine was third, 3/4 lengths behind. Tumbarumba has earned $456,290 for Amerman Racing.
Both rivals could eclipse a half-million dollars in earnings with good showings.
Donegal Racing’s Donegal Forever makes his stakes debut after returning from an eight-month layoff with a neck victory in a Gulfstream allowance Feb. 18, keeping him undefeated through two starts.
The Ghostzapper is race 7 with post time at 2:26 p.m. ET
Entries: Ghostzapper S. (G3)
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, March 30, 2024, Race 7
- Grade III
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $150,000
- 4 yo’s & up
- 2:26 PM (local)
